Journalists and booze don’t mix.Just look at what happened to Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was dumb enough to let an investigative freelancer for Rolling Stone into his inner circle and conduct a tape-recorded interview—over drinks.
But you need to be on your guard even if you aren’t being interviewed, and booze and reporters are present. Many people incorrectly assume that if they don’t see a reporter scribbling in a notebook, the interview, or anything they say, is off the record. Assume that everything you say in front of journalists is on the record, or don’t say it.
Loose lips sink ships.
1. After-work networking events
The media sometimes attend these events, often hosted by the local chamber of commerce. Smart reporters know how to make nice with you and get you talking. If you aren’t holding a drink in your hand, and you’re busy prattling on about your business, they can slyly lead you to the bar and offer you a drink.
2. Events hosted by the media
Business journals and other business magazines generate a large portion of their revenue from these events, and reporters and editors are everywhere. It’s a great chance to schmooze with the media, but only if you aren’t drinking.
3. Local and national Press Club dinners and special events
Reporters and editors have a well-deserved reputation for boozing it up at Press Club dinners and awards ceremonies. I recommend that anyone who wants publicity consider attending these events, often open to the public, because you can establish valuable relationships with the media—sober.
4. Trade shows
If you’re attending a trade show, you should do your homework and touch base with reporters who you know will be at the show so you can meet them for coffee, offer your expertise and find out what they need from you. Beware, however, of evening cocktail parties hosted by the trade show’s sponsor, where food and booze are plentiful.
5. Conferences and conventions the media cover
6. Fund-raisers and black-tie dinners
7. The “lunch” or “dinner” interview.
What situations can you add to this list? If you’re a PR person, what advice do you give to your clients?
Very good advice – and especially for junior clients who often get wrapped up in the frenzy of a trade show. Thanks for reminding us of something we seem to take for granted.
As a reporter, I had fun reading your list, Joan. Yes, you are right – we journalists lurk in many places – your list was good. However, these days, you often won’t have the tipoff of a reporters’ notepad; we are busy typing into smart phones and lap tops, just like everyone else.
An added tip: Avoid mixing your booze and social media – I am often trolling for juicy story ideas on Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Happily, I write about endurance sports and adventure travel, not politics.
I recently had a table set up for my first two novels at a Canada Day (July 1st) community BBQ. A gentleman walked up and began asking me the sample interview questions from my website’s media page. Then he said, ‘nice meeting you,’ and walked away. I was left wondering if I’d just been interviewed or not.
Good reminder about social media and booze, which might make you more apt to write something you wouldn’t write when sober.
Yikes!
It’s always a good idea, when people start directing questions to you, to ask if they’re a journalist. If so, find out where they work.
You can then craft your answers specifically for their target audience.
Yep, there’s so much going on at trade shows that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with all. A lot of people forget, too, that bigger shows have a media room where journalists hang out and write their articles.