January 29, 2009
Robert Vaughn Young
A former insider reveals strategies for managing the news media
by Robert Vaughn Young
LOS ANGELES (RushPRnews) 01/29/09-They say the first step in any recovery program is the admission, so here it is: I handled public relations (PR) and the media for L. Ron Hubbard and his Scientology empire for 20 years.
The Copyright Religion
It is no accident that I avoid saying “Church of Scientology” — the trademarked corporate name. The Scientology world is much larger than merely the “Church” of Scientology (see [sidebar] “Secular,” p. 40). It is a labyrinth of corporate shells that, like a hall of mirrors, was designed to baffle all but the initiated. Add to that an arcane language and dedicated “PRs” trained to divert and control inquiries, and it becomes obvious why few outsiders have been able to comprehend the Scientology hydra, let alone write about it. I hope this will make it easier.
From 1969 to 1989, I worked at every echelon of the organization, from a small, new “mission” up to national and then international level, including handling media in other countries and working at Hubbard’s personal literary agency. During my tenure, I handled reporters from high school papers and from The New York Times. I have appeared as a Scientology spokesman on radio talk shows and national TV news, as well as in magazines, books, and even a documentary film. I was a member of the Guardian’s Office, the pseudo-naval Sea Organization, and the glitzy Author Services Inc., Hubbard’s literary agency in downtown Hollywood.
I read this a few nights ago–these people would be laughable if they didn’t have so much money, and weren’t so out of control. They are nothing more than a massive, amoral business organization parading as a religion. What a perversion of the First Amendment.
Is there an RSS feed I can sign up to to get updates?