REGINA – From Pamela Anderson’s fight against Canada’s seal hunt, to Saskatoon-born Kim Coates’ support for the province’s film tax credits, celebrities have no issue vocalizing their views.
“Most celebrities tend to have a strong social conscious,” said Jocelyn Martin, Director of Communications for Martin Charlton Communications. “I think a lot of them feel that they do have a sense of responsibility to the general public.”
Neil Young is facing a lot of reaction over his anti-oilsands comments, also the theme of his tour which stops in Regina today.
David Williams, associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Business, says Neil Young’s message is credible because he’s not, say, a CEO or scientist associated with the project.
“I think it is a bit transparent. He’s not being paid by any of these companies whereas they may be funding other types of research,” said Williams.
Young already has successful career under his belt, so Williams thinks there will be no damage done.
“I think he’ll come out unscathed. I mean, coming out on this cause will probably enhance his reputation and likeability among his followers,” he said.
And it’s those followers who may be more likely to contribute to the cause.
“If there’s a kind of perception of the cause matters to the celebrity, then there’s a higher buy-in from say the audience — there’s more believability,” said Williams.
Young has a history of activism and brushes off any suggestion that his involvement is celebrity-driven.
“I don’t agree with it, it’s ridiculous. I’m an environmentalist,” said Young at a news conference in Regina this morning.
From a public relations perspective, Young risks diluting his message by commenting on a wide variety of related issues, but there is still a benefit to bringing them up.
“Information getting out, information back and forth, and talking about it, that can be really powerful. I think it’s still yet to be seen if he has the effect he’s hoping for,” said Martin.
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