Posts Tagged ‘Journalism’

PR Awards for Journalists: The CRAPPs

PRs will celebrate their love-hate relationship with journalists two weeks today – at ‘The CRAPPs.’

The Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals gives PR pros the chance to vote for the friendliest – and least friendly – names in journalism.

As a former journalist and now a PR professional, PR Superstar Founder Jill Kent thinks the awards are a hoot, and on a more serious note, will help to strengthen that special – if somewhat strained – bond that has always existed between hacks and flacks!

Tags: , , , , , | Posted in PR Comment December 1st, 2010

PR Week: Hack V Flack Experiment

The similarities between the roles of journalist and PR professional are explored in an experiment conducted by public relations bible PR Week.

The age-old tension between PRs and journalists is well documented, says the magazine.

PR Week set up the experiment to find out what would happen when a ‘hack’ and a ‘flack’ swapped roles for a week.

What would a PRO think of a journalist’s deadlines, being on the receiving end of pitches and deciding on stories in the news meeting?

And how would a journalist cope with managing clients, pitching to other hacks, and having to make those dreaded follow-up calls?

PR Superstar aka senior journalist and PR professional Jill Kent is highly experienced in both journalism and public relations with a 20-year media career, and can relate to the similarities and differences between the two - perhaps the job swap, as demonstrated in PR Week, should become more commonplace to help bring about greater understanding and better relations between the two professions, that do need each other let’s face it.

Tags: , , , , , | Posted in PR Comment July 29th, 2010

An Inconvenient PR Truth

PR Superstar applauds a controversial campaign – An Inconvenient PR Truth – aimed at highlighting and reducing the vast swathes of irrelevant press releases sent every day to journalists and bloggers, which fail to generate much-needed publicity for PR clients.

As a journalist-run public relations agency, led by qualified senior journalist turned seasoned PR pro Jill Kent,  PR Superstar welcomes such campaigns that support and encourage good practice in the PR industry, which doesn’t have the best reputation let’s face it.

PRs need to better understand the needs of journalists and Editors, it’s about giving them what they want, rather than what PRs want to give them; this would be better for everyone concerned, especially clients who of course want results.

The campaign has already fuelled much debate, both for and against, within the industry and has won support from Francis Ingham, Director-General of the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), as well as from other leading luminaries in the PR world.

Decide for yourself here: http://inconvenientprtruth.com/

Tags: , , , , , | Posted in PR Comment February 8th, 2010

Old Media Fight Back!

According to journalism gospel, Press Gazette, certain sections of the UK’s old media are fighting back, boasting booming circulation figures, despite widespread spiralling sales elsewhere in traditional media.

It’s tough times these days for old media, with advertising sales having fallen victim to the recession, combined with sagging circulations and the phenomenal growth of new media and social media.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, especially in the consumer magazine market, with many top titles enjoying something of a renaissance.

Circulation figures for current affairs magazine The Week are up 9.8% to 169,690 for the 2nd half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008; sales of women’s weekly The Lady which is celebrating its 125th birthday have grown by 9.3% to 28,782; satirical monthly The Oldie is enjoying a circulation increase of 14.6% to 35,965, and sales of celebrity weekly Star are up a jaw-dropping 83.4%, with a massive circulation of 492,067.

As with nearly all businesses that have survived the worst recession in living memory, the successful Editors cite their reasons for growth as innovation and uniqueness; delivering a quality product, and one that is value-for-money and relevant to their consumers and target audiences.

As a newspaper journalist by profession, PR Superstar Founder Jill Kent hopes this trend among the so-called old media may long continue!

Tags: , , , , , | Posted in PR Comment February 2nd, 2010

How to Handle Those Journalists!

Speaking as a former journalist, I love ‘em!

Apart from getting great coverage in the nationals, and on TV and radio; working with journalists is the biggest reason why I adore my job here at PR Superstar.

I’m unusual though. Many a PR person can’t stand reporters or are simply terrified of them!

Having trained and then worked as a senior journalist for almost a decade, journalism is very familiar territory and I feel completely comfortable with it. It’s my great passion and love, and always will be.

I do have great sympathy though with the SMEs having to do their own public relations and faced for the first time with that daunting task of phoning round reporters, desperately trying to drum up some much-needed coverage.

With this in mind, here are my top 5 tips about how to handle journalists:

* Check they’re not on deadline – if they are, call back!

* Be succinct – journos are busy people who get inundated with calls and e-mails

* Have a few ideas for possible stories up your sleeves so you can try to ignite their interest quickly

* Ask what they’re looking for in a story and inquire about how you may be able to help them, rather than them helping you

* Don’t be put off if the first or second journo isn’t interested – there are lots of papers and magazines; locally, regionally and nationally, b2b and b2c, and others may well be interested.

 

Please remember: “A journalist is for life, not just for Christmas” :-)

Merry Christmas everyone from PR Superstar!

Tags: , , , , , , , | Posted in PR Tips December 19th, 2008