Comments on: How Do Journalists View Follow Up Phone Calls? http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/ Journalism and PR blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:47:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Importance of Press Outreach by Phone | Boston Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media Blog | CCA http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-4013 The Importance of Press Outreach by Phone | Boston Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media Blog | CCA Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:54:52 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-4013 [...] topic of “How Do Journalists View Follow Up Phone Calls?” has been addressed by Jeremy Porter on his Journalistics blog – after surveying comments from [...] [...] topic of “How Do Journalists View Follow Up Phone Calls?” has been addressed by Jeremy Porter on his Journalistics blog – after surveying comments from [...]

]]> By: Music Videos http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 Music Videos Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:03:30 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-1497 Thanks for sharing this. This is great. Thanks for sharing this. This is great.

]]> By: Jeremy Porter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Jeremy Porter Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:07:41 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-1223 Sounds like a friendly bunch. Sounds like a friendly bunch.

]]> By: Ben http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-1222 Ben Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:02:59 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-1222 Not all journalists like phone calls. During a panel today 6 of 6 journalists said not to call them: http://tinyurl.com/kwx7qc Not all journalists like phone calls. During a panel today 6 of 6 journalists said not to call them: http://tinyurl.com/kwx7qc

]]> By: Should you follow up on that press release you sent me? « Christina Pellett http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Should you follow up on that press release you sent me? « Christina Pellett Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:02:24 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-642 [...] you follow up on that press release you sent me? Jeremy Porter over at Journalistics recently surveyed several journalists regarding a personal pet peeve of mine: follow-up phone calls on the part of PR [...] [...] you follow up on that press release you sent me? Jeremy Porter over at Journalistics recently surveyed several journalists regarding a personal pet peeve of mine: follow-up phone calls on the part of PR [...]

]]> By: Beth L. Gainer http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Beth L. Gainer Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:33:24 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-639 As a journalist, I find that it's the other way around: I wind up calling PR companies in order to get information on a lead or a story. While I find PR companies often cooperative and friendly, I also find that when I need technical information or other specific information, it's best to hear information from the original source. PR companies are hired to sell a certain product or service, whereas journalists are supposed to provide a balanced story that informs the public, so it seems the two groups are at cross-purposes. However, both PR agencies and journalists have jobs to do and need each other. Beth L. Gainer, author of "Calling the Shots," as well as journalist for HUDSON's Childrenswear Review www.bethlgainer.blogspot.com As a journalist, I find that it’s the other way around: I wind up calling PR companies in order to get information on a lead or a story. While I find PR companies often cooperative and friendly, I also find that when I need technical information or other specific information, it’s best to hear information from the original source.

PR companies are hired to sell a certain product or service, whereas journalists are supposed to provide a balanced story that informs the public, so it seems the two groups are at cross-purposes. However, both PR agencies and journalists have jobs to do and need each other.

Beth L. Gainer, author of “Calling the Shots,” as well as journalist for HUDSON’s Childrenswear Review
http://www.bethlgainer.blogspot.com

]]> By: Friday Roundup (June 12) « Andi Enns http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-600 Friday Roundup (June 12) « Andi Enns Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:16:28 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-600 [...] How Do Journalists View Follow-Up Calls? from Journalistics. The overwhelming majority welcome your calls – but only if you do it right. [...] [...] How Do Journalists View Follow-Up Calls? from Journalistics. The overwhelming majority welcome your calls – but only if you do it right. [...]

]]> By: Lisa http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-598 Lisa Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:51:00 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-598 Agree with many of the results - as a senior editorial staff member, I personally loathe follow-up phonecalls, but generally because there's a better person they could be directing them to (such as the stylist or writer who actually needs the material). I'm always impressed though if they're pitching for a specific section in the magazine or have evidently been reading it (if they say they love it, they get points for flattery too!). Just don't ring me to ask if I have any interest in a random product not related to our field. Overall I believe in the adage, "Don't call us, we'll call you." Agree with many of the results – as a senior editorial staff member, I personally loathe follow-up phonecalls, but generally because there’s a better person they could be directing them to (such as the stylist or writer who actually needs the material). I’m always impressed though if they’re pitching for a specific section in the magazine or have evidently been reading it (if they say they love it, they get points for flattery too!). Just don’t ring me to ask if I have any interest in a random product not related to our field. Overall I believe in the adage, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

]]> By: jeremyporter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-/#comment-597 jeremyporter Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:41:54 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-597 Thanks for the great comments everyone - this is the most active post to date in terms of comments. When talking about topics this, I can't help but think about the similarities between <a href="http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/selling-the-story-what-pr-can-learn-from-sales/" rel="nofollow">PR and sales</a>. In the case of follow up, would you send a prospective customer a letter about your products and leave it at that? If you did, you'd never get the sale. Follow up, while unpleasant for call recipient AND dialer, leads to success more often than not. Thanks for the great comments everyone – this is the most active post to date in terms of comments. When talking about topics this, I can’t help but think about the similarities between PR and sales. In the case of follow up, would you send a prospective customer a letter about your products and leave it at that? If you did, you’d never get the sale. Follow up, while unpleasant for call recipient AND dialer, leads to success more often than not.

]]> By: Brian Russell http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/how_do_journalists_view_follow_up_phone_calls/comment-page-1/#comment-595 Brian Russell Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:43:04 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=578#comment-595 As a lapsed journalist, with experience in both TV and newspaper newsrooms, I can undoubtedly say I was shocked by the results. On reflection, though, I think it's all in the delivery. Most, if not all, of the follow-up calls I'd receive as a journalist were for uninteresting stories. The PR folks, in my opinion, were pushing what I call favor-wasters (stories of no interest to anyone but the one or two small groups involved). Focus on the <a href="http://gainesvillepr.com/forums?func=view&catid=6&id=5" rel="nofollow">journalists' TIPCUP</a>, make sure you're pitching to the right person, show them the story (don't leave it to them to find the angle - they no longer have the time thanks to newsroom cuts), and follow up if you feel it's warranted (it's not a favor-waster and you've done the prior steps at an A level). As a lapsed journalist, with experience in both TV and newspaper newsrooms, I can undoubtedly say I was shocked by the results.

On reflection, though, I think it’s all in the delivery. Most, if not all, of the follow-up calls I’d receive as a journalist were for uninteresting stories. The PR folks, in my opinion, were pushing what I call favor-wasters (stories of no interest to anyone but the one or two small groups involved).

Focus on the journalists’ TIPCUP, make sure you’re pitching to the right person, show them the story (don’t leave it to them to find the angle – they no longer have the time thanks to newsroom cuts), and follow up if you feel it’s warranted (it’s not a favor-waster and you’ve done the prior steps at an A level).

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