A Flack by any other name

Sep 23, 2008

This past summer, I was driving through upstate New York and passed through a town called Flackville. And I wondered if this is where old PR people go to retire…(a news release on every corner…)

OK enough of that.

Yesterday, I received an email from a client who said the word ‘flack’ that refers to PR folks might not be pejorative at all. A couple of sources – Random House and Merriam-Webster – contend that it may have been coined as a tribute to 1930s entertainment publicist Gene Flack.

I did a search of Mr. Flack and didn’t come up with much more than this. I’d be interested in learning about him. If anyone knows where to find additional biographical information, please pass it along.

Thanks to John S. for the idea.

About Martin Waxman


Martin Waxman, MCM, is a digital communications strategist. He conducts AI research, leads digital and social media training workshops and speaks at events across North America. He's co-founder of two PR agencies, president of a consultancy and has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. Martin is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, teaches digital strategy and social media at McMaster University, the Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto SCS and Seneca College. He's a member of the Institute for Public Relations Digital Media Research Center and a past-chair of PRSA Counselors Academy. He has a Master of Communications Management (MCM) from McMaster-Syracuse Universities.

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