tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519198.post114250735269437609..comments2023-09-13T06:17:41.165-04:00Comments on technoflak: Reporters are not our friendsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519198.post-1142741153152137902006-03-18T23:05:00.000-05:002006-03-18T23:05:00.000-05:00Maybe I am too much of a purist about this. When I...Maybe I am too much of a purist about this. When I was a sales rep I made it my custom to never buy lunch for a prospect, my late father was the same way.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I have much better luck with placing stories with reporters who know me than ones who do not. It is just human nature, but I am very leery of chumminess with reporters. Maybe because I am based in the DC area, but I have see too much harm come from that.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13910093886404792584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519198.post-1142520658618985822006-03-16T09:50:00.000-05:002006-03-16T09:50:00.000-05:00As you suggest, sometimes your friendship can work...As you suggest, sometimes your friendship can work against you; it is a tricky relationship. I just think it cannot be said strongly enough that we are here for our clients and society is best served if we remember that.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13910093886404792584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519198.post-1142518316113425912006-03-16T09:11:00.000-05:002006-03-16T09:11:00.000-05:00This is an interesting post, Alice. As it turns ou...This is an interesting post, Alice. As it turns out, because I was a reporter, and then worked in corp comm for a media company, I have a lot of friends who are reporters. And while, on balance, this helps me quite a bit in my job, there are two sides to these relationships. For example, a friend who is a reporter MIGHT not take a pitch as well as a complete stranger -- because they may think you are "using" them to get coverage. It's tricky stuff. That's why I always tell my clients that the STORY they have to pitch is far more important than who they pitch it to. So while I have lots of relationships myself, I make sure they understand that -- in my humble opinion -- PR firms that try to sell themselves purely based on their media relationships are charlatans. IMHO.Scott Baradellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04137057925586819535noreply@blogger.com