Comments on: What Reporters Should Know About “The Dark Side” http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:11:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: John Greaves http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-296 John Greaves Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:07:53 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-296 Journalists don't like to admit it but PR professionals are our best assets especially since they can create opportunities to talk to important sources that we might never have gotten. I have used the here's a list of questions to fill out trick but only as a last resort when I have schedule conflicts and I need to get answers. (why is it my sources wait until I have to do a story to go on vacation or to business conferences anyway? Is there a hidden message there?) Journalists need to realize that they are in a symbiotic relationship with PR professionals and we'd all get farther. Journalists don’t like to admit it but PR professionals are our best assets especially since they can create opportunities to talk to important sources that we might never have gotten.
I have used the here’s a list of questions to fill out trick but only as a last resort when I have schedule conflicts and I need to get answers. (why is it my sources wait until I have to do a story to go on vacation or to business conferences anyway? Is there a hidden message there?)
Journalists need to realize that they are in a symbiotic relationship with PR professionals and we’d all get farther.

]]> By: Lewis http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Lewis Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:58:09 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-28 This whole flack v. journalist thing reminds me of the snowboarders v. skiers debate that used to go on before we all became enlightened. As more and more reporters jump ship, this divide is only going to narrow. As a reporter turned PR guy, I have worked with some of the same people from both sides of the fence and I can tell you the PR people I admired as a reporter are the same people I admire as a PR guy. They are people who do their jobs with no BS and don't see themselves as any lower on the food chain than reporters. BTW, can we get a better name for people who are in the field of public relations? That would help. This whole flack v. journalist thing reminds me of the snowboarders v. skiers debate that used to go on before we all became enlightened. As more and more reporters jump ship, this divide is only going to narrow. As a reporter turned PR guy, I have worked with some of the same people from both sides of the fence and I can tell you the PR people I admired as a reporter are the same people I admire as a PR guy. They are people who do their jobs with no BS and don’t see themselves as any lower on the food chain than reporters. BTW, can we get a better name for people who are in the field of public relations? That would help.

]]> By: Karen http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Karen Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:27:31 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-27 This is wonderful!!! As a former journalist and current pr specialist, I really appreaciate the way you responded. It helps to remind others that pr specialists are professional people, too. Many, many thanks! Karen This is wonderful!!! As a former journalist and current pr specialist, I really appreaciate the way you responded. It helps to remind others that pr specialists are professional people, too.
Many, many thanks!
Karen

]]> By: Don Martelli http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Don Martelli Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:45:24 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-14 Great post, all stuff that has been talked about since the relationship of a Journo and PR existed. The real problem is that NONE of this will change. We are and will continue to be at the beck and call of journalists. That's the game. I agree that both sides need to bend, but that's where the relationship comes in. If it's a working relationship, there's no BS. The connection creates quality for both sides, i.e. great stories for the reporters and great coverage for the client. The relationship is at the heart of ALL of this. The real issue is time. Reporters just don't have the time to build relationships like they used to. Coffee every tuesday isn't going to cut it now because Mr. Joe/Mary Reporter has not only a hard copy deadline, but also a podcast to record and a video or two to shoot...all by 5pm. This is where social media comes into play. Reporters need to use tools like Twitter to maintain and build those relationships. There are far more PRs on Twitter than reporters. The same rules of engagement apply on Twitter as they do in the real world. Make your connections worth while. No fluff. No BS. Keep it straight to the point. Keep it transparent and be honest. That builds credibility and opportunity for your clients. Great post, all stuff that has been talked about since the relationship of a Journo and PR existed. The real problem is that NONE of this will change. We are and will continue to be at the beck and call of journalists. That’s the game. I agree that both sides need to bend, but that’s where the relationship comes in. If it’s a working relationship, there’s no BS. The connection creates quality for both sides, i.e. great stories for the reporters and great coverage for the client. The relationship is at the heart of ALL of this. The real issue is time. Reporters just don’t have the time to build relationships like they used to. Coffee every tuesday isn’t going to cut it now because Mr. Joe/Mary Reporter has not only a hard copy deadline, but also a podcast to record and a video or two to shoot…all by 5pm. This is where social media comes into play. Reporters need to use tools like Twitter to maintain and build those relationships. There are far more PRs on Twitter than reporters. The same rules of engagement apply on Twitter as they do in the real world. Make your connections worth while. No fluff. No BS. Keep it straight to the point. Keep it transparent and be honest. That builds credibility and opportunity for your clients.

]]> By: Tip #43: Read this « Pro Reporter Tips http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Tip #43: Read this « Pro Reporter Tips Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:36:56 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-13 [...] #43: Read this Jump to Comments What Reporters Should Know About “The Dark Side” by Thomas [...] [...] #43: Read this Jump to Comments What Reporters Should Know About “The Dark Side” by Thomas [...]

]]> By: Bobbie Carlton http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Bobbie Carlton Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:37:02 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-15 Sounds like we follow some of the same people on twitter (I read the same blog post based on a retweet) and had the same reaction. But then, I am not a PR student or just out of college, so, to be expected. I think there is a "stop picking on PR people" whiff in the air. I just posted something in a similar vein, a "can't we just all get along" rant. Yes, PR is changing. The media world is changing. Social media is offering ways to go direct to consumer. Get over it. Change with it. Sounds like we follow some of the same people on twitter (I read the same blog post based on a retweet) and had the same reaction. But then, I am not a PR student or just out of college, so, to be expected.

I think there is a “stop picking on PR people” whiff in the air. I just posted something in a similar vein, a “can’t we just all get along” rant. Yes, PR is changing. The media world is changing. Social media is offering ways to go direct to consumer. Get over it. Change with it.

]]> By: Really, It’s Not the Itchy and Scratchy Show « The Luminaria Media Blog http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Really, It’s Not the Itchy and Scratchy Show « The Luminaria Media Blog Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:57:13 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-26 [...] last few days — What PR people should know about journalists, and this companion piece, and this response. I concur with Thomas Lee, who makes the point in the response post that good PR practitioners know [...] [...] last few days — What PR people should know about journalists, and this companion piece, and this response. I concur with Thomas Lee, who makes the point in the response post that good PR practitioners know [...]

]]> By: Roger Friedensen, APR http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Roger Friedensen, APR Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:18:09 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-25 I applaud virtually all of this post as an appropriate and well-written response to countless articles, speeches and diatribes from journalists about how public relations professionals are akin to something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe with a stick. I say virtually all because I disagree with the point that any and all "spin" is okay as long as it's not lying. Sorry. Taunting journalists to "find the truth if you can" does not comprise ethical behavior or sustainable public relations (see http://blindingglimpse.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/sustainable-public-relations-a-proposed-philosophy-practice/). Deliberate obfuscation and playing around the truth is just wrong. Our job is to help bridge the gap between our organizations/clients and the public. We help organizations adapt to, alter or maintain their environments to accomplish organizational goals. "Spinning the truth" just isn't right no matter what kind of spin you try to put on it. www.twitter.com/sixstringsnc I applaud virtually all of this post as an appropriate and well-written response to countless articles, speeches and diatribes from journalists about how public relations professionals are akin to something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe with a stick. I say virtually all because I disagree with the point that any and all “spin” is okay as long as it’s not lying. Sorry. Taunting journalists to “find the truth if you can” does not comprise ethical behavior or sustainable public relations (see http://blindingglimpse.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/sustainable-public-relations-a-proposed-philosophy-practice/). Deliberate obfuscation and playing around the truth is just wrong. Our job is to help bridge the gap between our organizations/clients and the public. We help organizations adapt to, alter or maintain their environments to accomplish organizational goals. “Spinning the truth” just isn’t right no matter what kind of spin you try to put on it.

http://www.twitter.com/sixstringsnc

]]> By: Brian http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Brian Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:00:10 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-24 Amen, hallelujah, and all that jazz. This is simply the best thing I've read in quite a while. Yes, there's a lot of idiot PR people out there trying to pitch stories about cell phones to people who write only about LCD TVs. But there's also plenty of us who know our industries intimately, know our media just as well, and fully understand why a particular story might be of interest to a certain reporter. We're certainly not all evil, and having to wear that label definitely gets tiring after a while. Amen, hallelujah, and all that jazz. This is simply the best thing I’ve read in quite a while. Yes, there’s a lot of idiot PR people out there trying to pitch stories about cell phones to people who write only about LCD TVs. But there’s also plenty of us who know our industries intimately, know our media just as well, and fully understand why a particular story might be of interest to a certain reporter. We’re certainly not all evil, and having to wear that label definitely gets tiring after a while.

]]> By: Jenni Abreu http://451heat.com/2009/01/22/what-reporters-should-know-about-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Jenni Abreu Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:59:46 +0000 http://451heat.wordpress.com/?p=238#comment-23 All I have to say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We need this! All I have to say is THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We need this!

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