Ivan Yates and the great 'podgate' row is a distraction from the real issues facing us

The breakup between Ivan Yates and Matt Cooper is a standard 'dead cat bounce' — what are they distracting us from now, asks PR guru Paul Allen 

Ivan Yates and Matt Cooper: The podgate furore is distracting us from real issues such as housing and the cost of living. Picture: Fran Veale

In moments of great difficulty, or what the rest of us once upon a time called "a good old-fashioned crisis", I always tell clients: "This too shall pass." While this is a well-worn and trusted old military saying, it holds true whether you’re in the trenches or in the busy newsroom of today.

Reflecting on great past moments such as Harry Houdini, the 1930s' escapologist. Chained, submerged, and gasping in icy water, he’d eventually break free, battered, bruised, but thankfully alive, while the astounded audience held its breath.