Influence (Bob Moore and Neil Brandt)

This documentary really had me second guessing everything regarding advertisement and political trials. We learn of an individual (Timothy Bell) who was involved in a successful public relations and advertisement firm- Bell Pottinger. Bell started out his career being very robust and influential, but this eventually led to a major down fall in his occupation. Working with Margaret Thatcher, he developed a very political stance within the media where he was later encouraged to join the Gupta Brothers and Zuma in South Africa.

Bell did eventually decline this offer as it developed into extreme racial tensions that were blamed on the media. This documentary makes you define the narrow line between advertising public relations morally and using communication as a weapon to construct opinions. This was very fascinating to me as I will now notice whether the advertisement is biased depending on what it is showing. Like in these cases, civilians constructed their political views based on what they were told/what they saw through advertisement which had been slandered to suit the client. Bell, after this uproar, was interviewed on Question Time where he was reported to ‘crumble’ in front of the audience due to a feeling of guilt. Bell continued to stress his innocence, but journalists and South Africans still feel betrayed by this injustice. A definite watch for anyone fascinated in the media or politics as it covers everything from class to race. 

Written by Molly Bowler