To Bring Harmony and Peace between Public Relations and Journalism..........

Many journalists seem to dislike public relations practitioners; in fact, some journalists actually hate pr representatives. It is unfortunate that there is such discord between the two fields, because journalists and pr reps need and use each other to get their work done.

I used to be a journalism student, I have now switched to public relations, and I am well aware of the complaints and hate thrown at pr reps and I think the reason for the lack of harmony is quite simple. The absence of any real communication and understanding of what either party is doing. Isn’t that weird? The main job function for both is communication, yet they can’t seem to communicate with each other?

My next blog will focus on what journalists need to understand about practitioners, but this entry will help pr reps recognize what journalists need, or don’t need, from us and how we can improve our standing with them……

Deadlines: This is probably the biggest peeve journalists have with us. Public relations reps need to be aware and care about the fact that journalists have inflexible deadlines. The proper and respectable thing to do is to get the writers the information ASAP. Work with journalist, not against. Have the information ready in a timely manner. It is common courtesy and lessens the room for errors, because the journalist won’t have to be rushing your story.

Inadequate press releases: Journalists want to read a press release and now exactly what their story will be about. When they are pressed for time with a strict deadline, there isn’t always the opportunity to go do extra research. Especially for information that should already be in the press release. Think about what you as a reader would want/ need to know and put it in the press release.

Don’t tell them how to do their job: Self explanatory. Don’t tell a journalist how to write the story or what you want in the story. If you write an accurate and detail release, there will be no need for you to hover over them and tell them how to write your piece. All the information they need will be there and they are trained writers and know what to do.

Bribery: Do not offer to buy them coffee or green tea. Do not buy them ringside seats to Wrestlemania. Bribery is annoying, insulting and unprofessional. Your company/product, along with a well written press release, will sell itself and you don’t come across as sleazy in the process.

Thank you for reading my musings. See you tomorrow……