Comments on: {Rules of PR no.7} Top 7 PR Mistakes made with Journalists http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/ Public Relations & Trends Blog by: Sasha H. Muradali Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:06:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: erinmcg http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2889 erinmcg Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:55:44 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-2889 It's a good list, Sasha. But regarding #1: the PR program where I went to school (Minnesota) is in the School of Journalism and Mass Comm... All students, no matter their focus, are taught about each of the other tracts. I'm not sure what it's like elsewhere, but I do know more than a few schools that are set up in a similar way. The problem is with PR pros who major in something other than PR (yes, even communications). PR pros should have an understanding not only of journalism and reporters/editors, but also of the industry in which they are working. That's hard to fake (editors will see through it). It's a good list, Sasha. But regarding #1: the PR program where I went to school (Minnesota) is in the School of Journalism and Mass Comm… All students, no matter their focus, are taught about each of the other tracts. I'm not sure what it's like elsewhere, but I do know more than a few schools that are set up in a similar way. The problem is with PR pros who major in something other than PR (yes, even communications). PR pros should have an understanding not only of journalism and reporters/editors, but also of the industry in which they are working. That's hard to fake (editors will see through it).

]]> By: Kelly http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2888 Kelly Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:19:45 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-2888 Exactly! I think that's a great idea for PR students--sounds like a fantastic program. I studied journalism and English/Lit in college, so I had NO idea when I got into PR what standards were followed. All I did was create story pitches based on what I would have wanted to know about as a journalist. It's served me well so far. :) Sounds like the same thing has helped you, too. Following professional blogs like yours also help! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the industry--they're insightful and thought-provoking. Exactly! I think that's a great idea for PR students–sounds like a fantastic program. I studied journalism and English/Lit in college, so I had NO idea when I got into PR what standards were followed. All I did was create story pitches based on what I would have wanted to know about as a journalist. It's served me well so far. :) Sounds like the same thing has helped you, too. Following professional blogs like yours also help! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the industry–they're insightful and thought-provoking.

]]> By: Sasha H. Muradali http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2887 Sasha H. Muradali Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:46:21 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-2887 HI Kelly!<br><br>That's so true! When I was getting my PR degree at UF we had to take 3<br>structured journalism classes (one of which was Reporting.) Reporting in<br>particular was very rigorous and very in your face. We were constantly put<br>on deadlines and get had to become stringers for the local papers in<br>Gainesville. If you stories got published you got extra credit.<br><br>I think this helped me understand journalists a lot more, too, because I<br>stayed on as a stringer for a year instead of one semester. All of our PR<br>and journalism stuff has to be written in AP Style -- that's what all of our<br>papers used too. So when I was getting pitched too by PR people with their<br>news releases, that certainly helped!<br><br>Thanks for the comment :)<br><br>Sasha HI Kelly!

That's so true! When I was getting my PR degree at UF we had to take 3
structured journalism classes (one of which was Reporting.) Reporting in
particular was very rigorous and very in your face. We were constantly put
on deadlines and get had to become stringers for the local papers in
Gainesville. If you stories got published you got extra credit.

I think this helped me understand journalists a lot more, too, because I
stayed on as a stringer for a year instead of one semester. All of our PR
and journalism stuff has to be written in AP Style — that's what all of our
papers used too. So when I was getting pitched too by PR people with their
news releases, that certainly helped!

Thanks for the comment :)

Sasha

]]> By: kellyrohder http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2886 kellyrohder Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:35:34 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-2886 Hi Sasha,<br>I think you're right on. I was a journalist before becoming a PR professional, and I think my training on the other side has helped me greatly in building relationships with the media. Another thing I would add--which perhaps many of your readers already do--is to send news releases already written in AP style. Most papers I've worked for and with use this, and when I've sent pieces out to my contacts for a story pitch, they appreciate that I've already taken the time to write in a ready-to-be-published format.<br><br>Kelly Rohder Hi Sasha,
I think you're right on. I was a journalist before becoming a PR professional, and I think my training on the other side has helped me greatly in building relationships with the media. Another thing I would add–which perhaps many of your readers already do–is to send news releases already written in AP style. Most papers I've worked for and with use this, and when I've sent pieces out to my contacts for a story pitch, they appreciate that I've already taken the time to write in a ready-to-be-published format.

Kelly Rohder

]]> By: admin http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-846 admin Tue, 26 May 2009 15:21:42 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-846 Hi, I've been told that before -- I'm just too nice! But I think it's different if you have a great story, versus just pitching your client. You know soft news versus hard news and all that type of stuff. In my experience, journalist like that you are a PR person who is around and keeping in touch with them, but when you over do it and treat them as an outlet for your client they get really angry. One place I worked at served as the inspiration for "Calling to Confirm the Confirmation" -- needless to say, there was yelling and screaming involved. lol Thanks for your feedback, it is much appreciated. Let me know if you have any other suggestions. I'd love to hear/write about them :-) Hi,

I’ve been told that before — I’m just too nice! But I think it’s different if you have a great story, versus just pitching your client. You know soft news versus hard news and all that type of stuff.

In my experience, journalist like that you are a PR person who is around and keeping in touch with them, but when you over do it and treat them as an outlet for your client they get really angry.

One place I worked at served as the inspiration for “Calling to Confirm the Confirmation” — needless to say, there was yelling and screaming involved. lol

Thanks for your feedback, it is much appreciated. Let me know if you have any other suggestions. I’d love to hear/write about them :-)

]]> By: Jacob Høedt Larsen http://sashahalima.com/blog/2009/05/rules-of-pr-no7-top-7-pr-mistakes-made-with-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-844 Jacob Høedt Larsen Tue, 26 May 2009 14:23:03 +0000 http://sashahalima.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-844 Hi Sasha, I have been following your blog for a while now. This is another good post with some great insight. However, I think you are just a bit too respectful of journalists. It is not a good idea scaring people off contacting journalists. In my experience; journalists would rather have a call too much than one to few, burning them of a great story. Hi Sasha,
I have been following your blog for a while now. This is another good post with some great insight. However, I think you are just a bit too respectful of journalists. It is not a good idea scaring people off contacting journalists. In my experience; journalists would rather have a call too much than one to few, burning them of a great story.

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