Comments on: Tip #61: Do I look like a college student?

By: Dominga

Dominga — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:34:44 +0000

Thanks for the interesting article.

By: Cindi

Cindi — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:21:13 +0000

“That’s why you guys get the big bucks, I suppose.” HA! I am a PR manager for a non-profit. I’m sure most of the journalists I work with make more than I do. We do our best to keep track of preferences, but with beats and employees constantly changing at media outlets these days, it’s impossible not to make a few errors – especially when you handle not only PR but marketing as well. There are only so many hours in the day.

By: Lina DeMartinez

Lina DeMartinez — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:45:20 +0000

Strange how I had the head of a Board of Directors ask me to print out a copy of a presentation we did using FB alone.

652 pages? Come on! Get with it.

By: Corinne

Corinne — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:59:37 +0000

There are now so many ways we can pitch our clients that it’s overwhelming at times. It requires practical knowledge plus good intuition to know what’s the best method for each editor…and for each client.

By: JB

JB — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:51:06 +0000

Good point Sarah. When I first started in PR people said you always follow up with a phone call after a pitch. Now though, it seems like most people I’m contacting prefer email only, and probably like me, for the reasons Rafe mentioned: its sortable and searchable.

It’s like the comments about Facebook, find out what the journalist prefers and go from there. I’d argue though that if you do your homework and have a great pitch, it almost doesn’t matter.

By: Sarah Lafferty

Sarah Lafferty — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:51:06 +0000

I really enjoy your tips from afar (London). Here Facebook is for old people and Bebo is what the kids use. I’m so old, it’s hard for me to avoid that old fashioned impulse to pick up the phone but I appreciate that terrifies some people. Is it me, or does nobody in America ever answer their phones anymore?

By: Aly

Aly — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:54:33 +0000

So now we know. Glad I haven’t pitched you through FB

But you make a good point at the end there — different journalists prefer different ways of being pitched and in the end it’s all about how to best build those relationships.

By: Rafe

Rafe — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:53:34 +0000

Matthew, good point. *I* don’t like getting pitched on FB, but if other people do, I won’t judge.

Aly, FB for me is a poor “side door.” It’s not part of my workflow and messages on FB aren’t archived or searchable with my email. That’s why I don’t like it.

The real challenge for a PR pro these days is keeping track of who likes what. That’s why you guys get the big bucks, I suppose.

By: Matthew Podboy

Matthew Podboy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:04:28 +0000

Gotta disagree with that one, Rafe. It’s about preference. You don’t like FB pitches and that’s fine, but it has nothing to do with being in college or not. I know plenty of journalists who prefer FB pitches because they only come from PR folks that they have accepted as friends.

By: Aly

Aly — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:50:14 +0000

Oh come on. If you’re putting yourself out there on Facebook, Twitter, etc., you have to expect some pitching there. So someone figured you were buried under email and found a side door — good for them.

Or here’s a tip — if you think being on Facebook makes you look like a college student, don’t be on Facebook.