Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, United Pacific International (UPI) and Elite Public Relations Consultants have decided against joining the association, which already boasts multinationals Weber Shandwick, Ketchum, GolinHarris and a dozen other Taipei-based firms.
The launch of Prat was spearheaded by several PR agencies, including the Pilot Group, with Pilot CEO Arthur Yang installed as president.
Economic hard times have seen many PR agencies abandon PR fees, and instead charge clients much reduced production fees.
Ogilvy, UPI and Elite are believed to be waiting until Prat clarifies its policy on mandatory PR fees and demonstrates its willingness to enforce it. “We are consultants so we must charge a PR fee just like a doctor or a lawyer,” said Elite CEO Liza Yen, who is also CEO of a much older PR institution, the Foundation for Public Relations, founded in 1990.
