Comments on: PR Newbies: Tips from Editors on The Sun, Metro, Telegraph and Sunday Mirror:

By: Binokel im Internet spielen

Binokel im Internet spielen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:53:43 +0000

excelenta abraiso mi bavido te deirias trolevos pamer. corquilho te obstraza ncatuo nos prenvamo o argis enhana olituoso bien.

By: Andy R

Andy R — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:47:47 +0000

I’ve worked on both sides of the fence and have seen so many ‘churnalists’ who don’t give PRs enough credit for helping them to do their jobs. Without PRs they would have to find a lot more news themselves. But equally, there is a lot of dross being sent out and a nose for news among PRs is invaluable.

By: Sean Hargrave

Sean Hargrave — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:36:56 +0000

i used to edit the Innovations section of the Sunday Times and all the above points are really good – the amount of untargeted rubbish i’d get (and still do) which would have had to be ignored for half a week by the dailies for me to be able to use it was incredible

the funniest calls i used to get were for a forward features list – i used to direct people to the astrology page where they may find out what was going to happen in the coming weeks as i couldn’t see past this Sunday

By: just another PR tired of the same old story.

just another PR tired of the same old story. — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:01:12 +0000

Seriously, how many more articles like this can be published?! Sure, there are obviously enough shit PRs out there to make journos feel the need to keep drilling the same ‘don’t follow up a press release’, ‘don’t tell me your client expects a full page story’ regurgitated rubbish over and over on every PR 101 blog and at every PR / Journo panel. Perhaps we should assume said shit PRs aren’t reading such blogs or attending panels to better their practice, so how about offering some real, original advice. Heck, maybe next time you could even answer your phone or respond to the shit PRs and let them know their approach isn’t working / right / good enough and do yourself, your fellow hacks, the PR and their client all a favour…

By: Tim Footman

Tim Footman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:42:33 +0000

“Never ever send a press release as a PDF as we cannot cut and paste from it.”

Oh perish the thought that a hack might actually have to type something out or – even worse – put a piece of information in his or her own words. In fact, fuck journalism, just bundle together the 20 most interesting press releases and call it a newspaper.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:35:23 +0000

James from the Metro says it well “Honesty is always the best policy”

The PR industry is shitting on its own doorstep from all angles with so many lies emerging from PR’s in their ‘do whatever it takes’ pitch to get the story. The sad part is the loop hole is that most journalists don’t have time to do a full background check on every fact/press release/detail they receive. And then once published its generally too late because the reader is hardly likely to start a revolution should they know what they are reading is false.

The situation is made 10 x worse with so many inexperienced start up PR managers/companies emerging. If you can spell and have a computer/phone you’re a PR these days.

By: Donina Ifurung

Donina Ifurung — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:02:14 +0000

I like to start with complimenting or commenting on a piece written by a reporter. This shows that I am paying attention – TO THEIR WORK. Much of P.R. is in the details. If I show that I care, perhaps he will extend the same to me.

By: Jason Gale

Jason Gale — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:53:44 +0000

Great article, at Handmade UK we live by these rules but its good to see journalists supporting what we believed to be true. If all PR’s used these rules journalists would have more time to create better content and so in turn helping the PR industry produce better results for their clients…everyone can win.

By: Oli

Oli — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:43:54 +0000

Some great points here – although introducing yourself to the journalist helps to establish a relationship with the them. In the long run is a better strategy for getting coverage than just being a ‘talking press release’.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:21:14 +0000

The whole ‘have you got the release’ phonecall is really bad practice and always due to poor organisation on the PR side.

Much more effective and sensible is to call a day or two before the release goes out, saying I have this story coming up, would you like the release when its ready?

It saves you time and it saves the journalist time, and you can get lots of confirmed interest before the release even goes out, meaning you don’t have one of those ‘high pressure ‘shit we need coverage’ sell ins’.