Too soon for McDonald’s to redefine ‘McJob’
While McDonald’s is brave to apparently embrace the idea of employee led public relations, it’s still far too soon for this initiative to change the dictionary definition of McJob.
The lexicographers’ task is not to give a word meaning, but to describe the meanings attributed to it in everyday use. If McDonald’s can persuade people that a McJob is a good job, then fair enough. But they’ve still a way to go before that goal’s achieved.
Comments (2 comments)
Stephen,
saw an article on this on the BBC and as you say you cannot persuade the OED to change a definition, it simply reflects the evolution of the language.
PR is not a mystical marketing channel that can redeem any situation as long as you having the cunning of Alistair Campbell. PR can never be better than its service or product for too long.
If McDonalds changes, perhaps under the PR or communications team’s influence, then it can rebrand itself. Simply putting a new veneer on things will not achieve much if the essential issue is the same as it was.
Rob
Artisan
Rob Artisan / March 25th, 2007, 9:49 pm / #
[...] David Fairhurst is the brains behind the attempt to redefine McJob (something he says American colleagues fought him on) and an initiative, like Quorn Premiere, that I reckon is too much too soon. [...]
David Fairhurst: McDonald’s social responsibility evangelist / October 25th, 2007, 2:32 pm / #
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