If you call me at 2:00 pm to schedule a 3:00 pm interview, and your announcement is actually important enough that I want to take the call, and if we both understand that 3:00 to 3:30 pm is the only block of time left in the whole day that actually works for both of us, make damn sure your exec will actually be available at 3:00 to 3:30.
And if not, don’t wait until 3:20 to call to tell me we need to reschedule.
Rafe
Pro PR Tips 
I don’t work for big shot PR agency or representing a big name client but I can tell you that sometimes the damn exec tells damn lies to us about availability. And try as we might to make them understand how important your time is, they don’t get it. Your point is valid but it’s not always the PR person at fault here.
I know that. But even so, if you’ve schedule me for a time and your exec is a no-show, then tell me what’s going on so I can decide what to do with my time. Leaving me dangling for 20 minutes is unnacceptable.
I have gone through some of your posts and I have to ask you this. Haven’t you had ANY good experience with a PR professional at all? Have you written about those?
Are you making PR folks a target because you are in a position to do so, sitting on that high horse called journalism, knowing none would dare to retaliate because of the clout you wield? Or is it because you have to pander to your audience who would like to yet again see a hapless PR guy being beaten up?
Your posts make me angry because I have spent over 15 years of my life in this field in India trying to neglect ignorant clients who couldn’t see beyond column cc when it came to PR and arrogant journalists who would be nice to you when it suited them and ignore you when they were done getting their stories.
Seriously, give PR a break!
These are all very valid and relevant points, but I don’t see you responding?
I use this blog to vent about bad PR, not praise good PR. That’d be boring. Most people who read this blog (which is not many, it’s a small blog) find it both entertaining and educational. And I find it cathartic. Don’t like it? Don’t read it.
Give PR a break? Never!
Suit yourself – it’s your toy! The ‘That’d be boring’ in your response says it all for me and is my victory.
Finally, do you see me subscribing to your posts or twitter feed? No. So, I don’t need you to tell me not to read your blog. You can reserve your rudeness for your cathartic posts. And yes, I also changed my mind about PR needing a break from you. I am happy we are able to provide you with what I am sure is a much needed outlet for whatever you must be going through (outside dealing with PR people!)
Have a good day.
Hi Surekha,
I am not sure to agree with you: this blog writes about PR. This does not mean that all PR is bad!
But telling PR people some of the “great mistakes” that they might do that will ruin their business with the press is rather useful right?
Neither did the blog pretend that all journalists are great persons and that none of them ever makes mistakes.
My experience on both sides has allowed me see most of the mistakes printed here, and journalists’ mistakes as well: dishonest, arrogant, stupid, stubborn… they have their share too. But you don’t need to be told that, do you?
I’m sure that as a PR person you are quite fine and do not repeatedly perpetuate the mistakes described here.
Of course you can smile at some of the mistakes decriibed and that you’re sure not to commit. That does not mean this blog is useless for you: . showing this blog to your clients is also a useful tool that you can use in some desperate cases, where all your huge efforts on educating your client simply have no effect.
Although it’s probably clear to the people who have pitched me, I’ll say it here anyway: I love my job, and I value PR, both good and bad. Good, because it makes my job at CNET easier, and bad, because it helps me laugh at the human condition — that’s the catharsis.
Furthermore, all the PR mistakes that have made it into this blog are teachable moments, and I treat them as such. Yes, highlighting these moments stings, and I am often rude enough to offend the delicate, but lessons with an emotional payload are more likely to be learned.
Victory is mine!
Hey Surekha,
Have you not learned from or enjoyed any of Rafe’s posts? Why don’t you write about those?
Anyone who has worked in PR for 15 years and can’t identify with what Rafe writes about probably works alone.
I wish the best to you, but please go away.
Hello Brad, I hope that comment earns you some brownie points from Rafe – more strength to you!
You might want to link your comment/name to your website so that I can identify you better. And no, this is my first tryst with this blog – anyone smart enough would have realised that, as also what it was that I was taking objection to (and clearly, Rafe got my point as evident from his last comment). And finally, if you work for the PR industry, then this blog is beginning to make sense to me.
It is not that I am blind to problems plaguing the industry (read my comment here, if you have the time or the inclination: http://bit.ly/dvzkf ), my problem was with the non-stop badgering of PR execs without a word of appreciation for good work done by them, which I am sure you would agree can also be learnt from. I now understand the format of this blog doesn’t support that and too bad I didn’t give it more importance then when I was upset reading criticism after criticism.
You know what’s really funny in all this. Sitting far away in India, none of this should really matter to me. But it did. And about your attempt at a weak jab – statement of me probably working alone, I would be happy to get you to meet my clients when you are in India next.
I think I’ll stick around for a while – do what you can.
B-))
I did react to fast as well!
:)
I agree with all the points you raise in your first comment, Bernard. Thank you.
Brownie points my foot, he owes me a shout [Aussie definition].
Ignoring the rants here, you’re right, that’s crap and unprofessional. But my point would be – that’s why you have a relationship with your key media – they know you, so they know you’re trying your damndest to get the slippery client there and on the end of the phone, or ass in seat.
90% of the time you succeed, so the other 10% that they just decide to take “that one short call” two mins before the interview is due to start, or remember another appointment and cancel our window, the journo trusts that I’ve been screwed around too.
Relationships. That’s what our jobs are all about.
I know! You have so many questions racing through your head right about now. Let¡¯s just say ¨C all of your questions will be answered in due time. For now, listen to my heart and my passion
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