Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Why Journalists Hate PR

I hear it all the time: Journalists hate PR people.

Well, being a PR professional myself, I find this quite offensive even though I know that many journalists would not survive without PR. Countless times have I had journos approaching me for info or simply using my press releases as is.

So, my answer to this is simple, to all the journo folk hating on PR professionals, I got news for you - the feeling is mutual!

Ok, aside with subjective opinions and onto the facts. I strongly believe that journalism and PR works in coherence - the one hand washes the other and without one of them, the other would not be able to function.

I admit I'm not too fond of journalists, yet I know that my job would not be possible without them. I mean, who else is going to publish my press releases as is? :)

And as much as journos try to deny it, they do need PR. Who else is going to supply them with information. I mean, who wouldn't want to have your job done for you? :)

Ok, back to the serious business. Let's look at some of the statements made by journos about PR people:

1. PR people who waste an email asking if they can send a press release. (Just send over the press release, please.)

2. PR people who use software to email press releases that look like they are personalized but aren’t.

3. PR people who send invitations to events in faraway cities.

4. PR people who distribute press releases at a time when the proposed interview subject is not answering their phone or out of the country and unreachable for days. 

I have to admit, I’d get annoyed too if any of the above happened to me, but this is such a generalisation. I surely don’t do any of the above and I sure hope you don’t as well?

But let’s get to the point of this post : We need each other, suck it up and play nice!

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