JOURNALISTS CAN’T ALWAYS BE TRUSTED… AND SIGN YOUR NAME – PR MUSINGS
Two random musings from a day in the life of the CEO of a PR firm:
1: This morning, I received a standard client request to call a reporter and vet an opportunity he was presented with. The reporter answered his phone at the designated extension of his major business publication, and proceeded to ask a series of questions. I found these questions to be quite unorthodox given the usual style and length of articles in this particular publication. After 10 minutes of prodding and back and forth, I learned that this reporter was working on a book and using this publication’s resources and credibility to call sources for it.
When I established that my client wouldn’t participate in the book, the reporter got very upset and spoke of editorial rules, none of which exist when dealing with a book writer. Quite simply, remember to always investigate media opportunities; evil may be lurking, and journalists can’t always be trusted. Don’t be naïve.
2: Yesterday, I received a package in an expensive bag filled with a great new product – a consumer packaged good. I received the gift I imagine as part of the target demographic of business owners, or entrepreneurs I imagine, and my estimate is the package cost $75 or so per piece. I imagine I was gifted with the hope that I’d love the product and tell employees, clients, and friends about it – maybe even purchase it.
And I did love the product. But when I tried to reach out to the people who sent it to me, I found that they had sent the package without the card of a contact person. So, after spending all that money to research who I was and then deliver me the package, they overlooked one of the most basic tasks: I didn’t even know who to thank. And it’s far from the first time it’s happened. Don’t forget the basics.
Ronn Torossian
January 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
1. Journalists can’t always be trusted? Understatement of the year.
2. Maybe it was your Secret Santa.