“PR” Is Dead! Long Live People
“Bloggers send more than a few emails asking to be removed from a media list, we also send emails to PR people to tell them why a pitch doesn’t work for their blog – and perhaps what might work in the future.” – The Bad Pitch Blog
Of course, I’m exaggerating the death…or am I? I’d submit that the old fast-talkin’ “if I’m liein’ I’m diein” flack style of PR has been on its last legs for some time. There are simply too many ways for people to get info these days (including talking/texting/tweeting to each other), and with the growing popularity of “right now, as it happens” social media, who needs a “For Immediate Release” press release? (Maybe you, depending on the target media, but you also shouldn’t just throw it out there.)
Frankly, I don’t know how most PR firms are staying afloat, given the decline of traditional dead-tree media (”working the biz beat” here in Albuquerque consists of sending out info to two newspapers…which takes about 5 minutes, including follow-up phone calls)…and the firms’ utter cluelessness about marketing. For example, I got this cold email from “2009 Strategic Agency of the Year – The Holmes Report” (in the signature line. Oh. Ah. But, what the hey is “The Holmes Report” and why do I care?)
Hi Mary,
Yes, indeed. I’ve never met you. By all means, get all gal-to-gal “friendly.”
I know that my colleague, Christine G, reached out to you on Monday but unfortunately she’s been pulled out of the office for the rest of the week!
Really? If so, I must have deleted that one too. And, what’s with the “G?” Does Christine really exist? Where was she pulled? Did the V mother ship take her?
I wanted to be sure to follow up with you about the opportunity to speak with all around funny gal, *Heather McDonald* (from Chelsea Lately), *tomorrow*. Her schedule is filling up (you know, with things like going to Kourtney Kardashian’s baby shower), but I really wanted to be sure you got had first right of refusal on this b/c I think she would be a lot of fun for your readers to hear from, but also I think they’d get a lot of value out of the MasterCard Priceless Gift Finder. It’s like having a girlfriend sitting at the computer with you helping you think of ideas.
Obviously, nobody at this “Strategic Agency of the Year” bothered to read my blog. And, please. Ideas from Kourtney Kardashian’s baby shower? Shoot me now.
Please let me know ASAP if you have any time available tomorrow and we’ll definitely fit you into her schedule!
Oh. joy. I’d better check my calendar…I may be out buying a gun…
Best,
Anastasia XXXX
Senior Account Executive, Digital & Emerging Media
This one is just too easy. Insert your own snarky thought here.
XXXX | Partners in Moving Brands Forward
Ditto above about snarky.
Of course, thanks to Google, you can easily find out the agency, if you wish. I’m trying to be a little kind. Anastasia may be hanging onto her first job by the tippy-tips of her french nails and has a mortgage to pay.
I did pop over to Holmes Report just to see (where the “more news” column is….blank.?!) It’s an insider PR industry group that provides “news and intelligence for public relations professionals.” So, who knows? Maybe getting an award from them is a big deal for PR agencies. Means nothing to the rest of us. Hmmm...maybe they should offer some intelligence on qualifying target audiences and the “new” social media…
Related Posts:
Four Red Flags When Hiring A PR Firm
Why PR and Viral Marketing Don’t Mix
Why I Don’t “Do” PR
Wasting Your Time On Thousands
Read More:
Mary Ellen Merrigan, ProfitMeister, Press Release Death Greatly Exaggerated. and Three Myths of PR
Jason Calacanis, Silicon Valley Insider, How To Get PR For Your Startup. Fire Your PR Company. (From 2008, but still good perspective.)
Susan Getgood, Marketing Roadmaps, the LOL Bad Pitch of The Day
View the Blog Roll
I wouldn’t this confused, ineffective effort with good public relations. It’s unfortunate that PR gets a bad reputation as an industry due to those who do blanket, off-target pitches. PR is supposed to be the profession that helps organizations achieve mutually beneficial relationships with their target audiences, whether that be consumers, employees, shareholders, or whomever. It’s about effective communications. It’s about listening as much as it is about talking. With new media, the role of PR should be more important than ever since there isn’t as much need for the news media middle man.
Robin,
As you note, this shouldn’t be confused with good PR (which is really Personal, not Public relations these days.) However, “bad” old-style PR is all too often the norm.
[...] 29, 2009 In contrast to Bad Pitch’s tweeted blog post about the death of PR, PR is not dead. Just like journalism and advertising, it’s simply [...]
[...] Following on my recent post, “PR” is dead. Long Live People. [...]
I’m not sure I agree entirely with your premise — keep in mind that all the folks talking, texting and tweeting need information to reference, and that’s where PR will play a key role. That said, I can’t help but enjoy how you tear apart the above pitch. Your critique is sobering, dead-on and funny as hell. I especially liked your references to “the mothership” and “buying a gun.” I hope your readers survive without coverage of Kourtney Kardashian’s baby shower
Eric,
Yes – PR can play a key role – but it must be good, well-planned, intelligent PR.
And, if someone offers to give you a tour of the ship…;-)