How do PR people and journalists sometimes drive each other nuts? Prof. Barbara Nixon's Spring 2011 Writing for PR & Advertising class came up with more than 15 ways.
Photo Credit: Vaguely Artistic http://www.flickr.com/photos/86819618@N00/132177047/. Even though journalists and PR professionals work in the same field, PR workers make more money, which could frustrate journalists.
Image Credit: “Back to school” by NintendoChick http://www.flickr.com/photos/nintendochick109/3176412714/in/photostream/This becomes frustrating to journalists when they are trying to finish a story, not to mention it makes the PR pro look bad!
When sending news release kits gifts can be a helpful tool. They can also be very annoying if they are not relevant or useful for the journalist. Choose wisely when deciding to send a gift with a news release, make sure it does not seem you are trying to bribe them with a cheap gimmick. Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanacreativa/333825925/Info Credit: http://tajanicole20.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/10-ways-pr-practitioners-can-drive-a-journalist-crazy/
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/h/hype_words.asp –Hype words should not be used. Hype words include words that exaggerate the meaning or to deceive the meaning.
Photo credit: Dan TaylorPR people should not friend a journalist on facebook straight away, this is invading their privacy and could make it awkward if the journalist does not want to accept their request
Image credit: patfind.com At the very least, journalists need to know the basics about the person they’re interviewing. Showing up unprepared is flat out unprofessional and disrespectful. http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/journalists-prs-hate-each-other/
Having a conflicting agenda can be a very tricky thing to work around, especially when you have a deadline!Where I found my picture.http://www.tallulahdavid.com/pr/pr-vs-journalists-cant-we-all-just-get-along/
Photo Credit: ImapixJournalists try to corporate with PR professionals by agreeing to cover their story. When the PR people expect a journalist to show up, and then nobody does, this drives them nuts!
Journalists often look for the negative side of a story to make it “news.” It can be annoying to PR people when they’re trying to get a positive story written about their organization, and a journalist decides to turn it into a negative story. It’s not good for the organization and it’s not what the PR representative expects.
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alaig/3992697121/in/photostream/ - A journalists should take the time to get all the information together before writing their story. If you make assumptions you are putting yourself in a position to get into a lot of trouble. (http://www.cleverpr.info/public-relations/how-do-journalists-annoy-public-relations-officers/)
Image Credit: Image Shack (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/iwakeup2dy9.png/sr=1)Journalists may use sourceswithin a company who will dish dirton the organization. They may speak with policeat the scene of a crime to gain the advantage over other reporters, despite privacy issues. Journalists seek out persons who can get their hands on shady financial dealings or paperwork in an organization, because scandals sell papers.