Comments on: Stop Spamming Journalists http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/ Journalism and PR blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:47:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lorrie http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 Lorrie Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:24:26 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1845 Yet another example of a lesson learned the hard way. I'm with you in not favoring a continued effort to throw this PR firm under the bus. PR pros certainly aren't perfect. But you'd better be pretty darn close. But, screw-up aside, this is a valuable lesson for PR pros to learn from. Yet another example of a lesson learned the hard way. I’m with you in not favoring a continued effort to throw this PR firm under the bus. PR pros certainly aren’t perfect. But you’d better be pretty darn close. But, screw-up aside, this is a valuable lesson for PR pros to learn from.

]]> By: Ellen Porter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1810 Ellen Porter Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:26 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1810 I for one do not have time to tailor a separate pitch for or get preauthorization to email each of the 150 or so journalists on my email contact lists, but I do have time to listen to what their needs are. Most of my contacts are editors or G.A. reporters. Beat reporters, and smaller media outlets do not get every release just those they'd have a legitimate reason to want. I'm not sure they do want all of them, but it apparently isn't killing any of them to hit the delete button when that's what they feel they need to do. Many times, instead, they have provided us advice on what they want or alternative emails to send releases. New clients may mean unsolicited emails to new media outlets, but once again, if "unsubscribe" or "send it somewhere else" is what they want, they've got it. But even more often, we end up placing a story in a media outlet we're not familiar with, due to geography or other factors. I for one do not have time to tailor a separate pitch for or get preauthorization to email each of the 150 or so journalists on my email contact lists, but I do have time to listen to what their needs are. Most of my contacts are editors or G.A. reporters. Beat reporters, and smaller media outlets do not get every release just those they’d have a legitimate reason to want. I’m not sure they do want all of them, but it apparently isn’t killing any of them to hit the delete button when that’s what they feel they need to do. Many times, instead, they have provided us advice on what they want or alternative emails to send releases.

New clients may mean unsolicited emails to new media outlets, but once again, if “unsubscribe” or “send it somewhere else” is what they want, they’ve got it. But even more often, we end up placing a story in a media outlet we’re not familiar with, due to geography or other factors.

]]> By: A Week in Bad PR: Object Lessons from the Dark Side | Marketing and Public Relations Blog http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1806 A Week in Bad PR: Object Lessons from the Dark Side | Marketing and Public Relations Blog Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:25:52 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1806 [...] quickly called out the Agency. This resulted in several posts and tweets, some harsh. Many just commented on the bad practices rather than bad [...] [...] quickly called out the Agency. This resulted in several posts and tweets, some harsh. Many just commented on the bad practices rather than bad [...]

]]> By: Chuck http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1805 Chuck Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:14:31 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1805 Not sure I completely agree with you on this. I appreciate getting emailed press releases for a variety of reasons. However, I fully agree with the cc issue. Big no no. But a direct emailed release is fine with me. I'll add another however though. Don't email me 13 releases in the same hour! Prioritize your release and accept the fact that I may only "use" one in ten. I don't see how any PR firm has the time to personally contact individual journalists and ask permission to send them a release. In my little niche world of agribusiness there are about 1,000 journalists (print/web/broadcast/freelance) for example. I believe the answer lies in being courteous and treating a journalist like you would want to be treated. Not sure I completely agree with you on this. I appreciate getting emailed press releases for a variety of reasons. However, I fully agree with the cc issue. Big no no. But a direct emailed release is fine with me. I’ll add another however though. Don’t email me 13 releases in the same hour! Prioritize your release and accept the fact that I may only “use” one in ten.

I don’t see how any PR firm has the time to personally contact individual journalists and ask permission to send them a release. In my little niche world of agribusiness there are about 1,000 journalists (print/web/broadcast/freelance) for example.

I believe the answer lies in being courteous and treating a journalist like you would want to be treated.

]]> By: Jeremy Porter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1804 Jeremy Porter Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:46:17 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1804 Thank you for your comment Eve (even though I completely disagree). I don't think the blame should go to corporations. Yes, they do spend millions on PR firms, but those PR firms sign-up to do the work. They also decide on the strategies and tactics to deploy. I would be surprised if the author of a book on social media (in this instance) asked the PR firm to blast a news release out to a thousand or so journalists (I doubt the client knew as of this happening). This really comes down to whether or not the PR professional is willing to spend the time it takes to do things the right way, or if they're going to opt for the lazy, less-effective and more risky option. Thank you for your comment Eve (even though I completely disagree). I don’t think the blame should go to corporations. Yes, they do spend millions on PR firms, but those PR firms sign-up to do the work. They also decide on the strategies and tactics to deploy. I would be surprised if the author of a book on social media (in this instance) asked the PR firm to blast a news release out to a thousand or so journalists (I doubt the client knew as of this happening).

This really comes down to whether or not the PR professional is willing to spend the time it takes to do things the right way, or if they’re going to opt for the lazy, less-effective and more risky option.

]]> By: Eve http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1803 Eve Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:38:49 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1803 PR professionals are not the root of this problem, the infamous and gigantic corporations are. They spend millions hiring PR companies to do their dirty work for them and get their message or product on TV, radio, websites, blogs, social networking sites etc., which costs less then advertising. This tactic can also be more efficient sometimes because the message or mention can be subliminal. For example, the next time you see an interview on TV or hear one on the radio with a doctor explaining a disease or mental disorder - 90% of the time they are being paid by a pharmaceutical company that may not ever be mentioned. How is that unbiased medical advice? Stations should disclose who the sponsor is, but many times they don't. Or my favorite - corporations pairing up with non-profits, which the corporate sponsor can then hide behind, but still get in their mention. The corporations are the ones we should be criticizing because they are the driving force behind spamming. The next time you receive a pitch, find out who the sponsor is; don't shoot the messenger. Instead, reply and let them know that you would prefer they not contact you again or explain what you prefer or completely block their email address entirely. We're all just trying to get by even though we may irritate one another. PR professionals are not the root of this problem, the infamous and gigantic corporations are. They spend millions hiring PR companies to do their dirty work for them and get their message or product on TV, radio, websites, blogs, social networking sites etc., which costs less then advertising. This tactic can also be more efficient sometimes because the message or mention can be subliminal. For example, the next time you see an interview on TV or hear one on the radio with a doctor explaining a disease or mental disorder – 90% of the time they are being paid by a pharmaceutical company that may not ever be mentioned. How is that unbiased medical advice? Stations should disclose who the sponsor is, but many times they don’t. Or my favorite – corporations pairing up with non-profits, which the corporate sponsor can then hide behind, but still get in their mention.

The corporations are the ones we should be criticizing because they are the driving force behind spamming. The next time you receive a pitch, find out who the sponsor is; don’t shoot the messenger. Instead, reply and let them know that you would prefer they not contact you again or explain what you prefer or completely block their email address entirely. We’re all just trying to get by even though we may irritate one another.

]]> By: Jeremy Porter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1802 Jeremy Porter Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:55:27 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1802 On the flip side of the equation, I've spent a lot of time tailoring pitches to individual journalists in the past, only to have the email automatically deleted or never read. It's still all about relationships. If you have them, you can get your clients more press. If you don't, you'd better start figuring out how to build some, or find a different profession. As far as MatchPoint goes, I blogged about it after you launched. Let me know if you've made any improvements to the search algorithm since then (or other features improvements) - I think it's a great idea and that it can help to some degree. On the flip side of the equation, I’ve spent a lot of time tailoring pitches to individual journalists in the past, only to have the email automatically deleted or never read. It’s still all about relationships. If you have them, you can get your clients more press. If you don’t, you’d better start figuring out how to build some, or find a different profession.

As far as MatchPoint goes, I blogged about it after you launched. Let me know if you’ve made any improvements to the search algorithm since then (or other features improvements) – I think it’s a great idea and that it can help to some degree.

]]> By: Peter Himler http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 Peter Himler Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:49:46 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1800 Jeremy, Good post...important too. That recent gaffe on which Abraham and Harrison's Chris Abraham also posted was just one example of a very bad practice in media relations that the advent of automation has enabled. Lost is the art of tailoring each pitch to an individual journalist based on his or her actual interest. If you haven't heard about the PR search application and engagement tool that I helped develop (www.prmatchpoint.com), you should know about it. Its latest version allows journalist engagement, but limits outreach to one journalist at a time to avoid spam. More importantly, the journalists whose names/contacts surface through the search are those whose bodies of work actually "match" the searched-on pitch letter or press release. It does not rely on vague job titles for targeting. Glad to see you're keeping the industry informed and honest. All best, Peter Himler Founding Principal Flatiron Communications LLC www.flatironcomm.com Jeremy,

Good post…important too. That recent gaffe on which Abraham and Harrison’s Chris Abraham also posted was just one example of a very bad practice in media relations that the advent of automation has enabled. Lost is the art of tailoring each pitch to an individual journalist based on his or her actual interest.

If you haven’t heard about the PR search application and engagement tool that I helped develop (www.prmatchpoint.com), you should know about it. Its latest version allows journalist engagement, but limits outreach to one journalist at a time to avoid spam. More importantly, the journalists whose names/contacts surface through the search are those whose bodies of work actually “match” the searched-on pitch letter or press release. It does not rely on vague job titles for targeting.

Glad to see you’re keeping the industry informed and honest.

All best,

Peter Himler
Founding Principal
Flatiron Communications LLC
http://www.flatironcomm.com

]]> By: Jeremy Porter http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1799 Jeremy Porter Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:09:22 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1799 I'd like to think they have better stuff to do with their time (though some may not). Of course, it's also possible that they've just had enough. If 90% of the work-related phone calls and emails you received had nothing to do with what you do, you might have a short fuse too. I’d like to think they have better stuff to do with their time (though some may not). Of course, it’s also possible that they’ve just had enough. If 90% of the work-related phone calls and emails you received had nothing to do with what you do, you might have a short fuse too.

]]> By: Ari Adler http://blog.journalistics.com/2009/stop-spamming-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 Ari Adler Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:30:51 +0000 http://blog.journalistics.com/?p=1054#comment-1798 I agree that spamming reporters is something PR people should avoid doing, but the more I've read about this incident the more I wonder how many of the reporters and bloggers hit "reply to all" on purpose just to make a mountain out of a molehill. I agree that spamming reporters is something PR people should avoid doing, but the more I’ve read about this incident the more I wonder how many of the reporters and bloggers hit “reply to all” on purpose just to make a mountain out of a molehill.

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