A View from the Reporter’s Chair
April 9th, 2007 by Jon Barkan“It’s always easy to comment from the cheap seats.”
Many people in professional and collegiate sports have said those words at least once or twice in their athletic lives. Many times it’s said in anger or frustration after a tough loss or game.
Well, we received this document from a former reporter, who sent it to someone we work with in the world of public relations. It is as honest a view into a reporter’s soul as you will ever get.
When I was working at USA Today and CNN, I would say that many of us shared this view of the world of public relations.
The one thing I would add is a comment that works in your everyday life - “It’s the relationship, period.”
I have many friends in newsrooms across the country, but I won’t call them just to call about a press release. You have to have respect for what they do and not just call them with a bad pitch for something that doesn’t fit their needs.
Now, what I will do, is call a friend and ask them their opinions and ask who they suggest I talk to in their newsrooms about a pitch. Yet, if it’s not a good pitch, I am not going to waste anyone’s time. Do that a few times and see how quickly you get voicemail on a regular basis.
Common sense isn’t common, anymore. Use your common sense before picking up the phone to call your reporter friend. This way, you will still be friends for many, many years to come.