For every PR person who grouses about a rude, inconsiderate journalist, there’s a journalist complaining about a lazy PR person. And the writers are sharing their gripes online.
Thanks to Publicity Hound Lori Lisi of Joshua, Texas for pointing out this interesting thread at a discussion board for travel writers.
Their gripes include PR people at hotels and convention and visitors bureaus who:
—Won’t return phone calls
—Tell reporters to “visit our website” when the reporter really wants a fresh quote or a lead
—Are not allowed to speak on the record
—Give reporters information that’s just plain wrong
—Treat journalists like pests
Lamented one writer:
“I often do round-up pieces where I have to leave out certain destinations or events simply because I can’t get a human being at a tourism board or PR firm…There are just so many of these folk that don’t know how to do their jobs. Time isn’t an issue – if they can’t take two minutes to talk to a journalist who is providing market coverage before 500k readers, then they’re in the wrong business.”
Indeed.
If you do PR for a hotel, convention and visitors bureau, or tourist attraction, and you can help travel writers do their jobs, the payoff could be huge because they can show thousands of people the path to your door. Learn what travel journalists want and the best way to give it to them. When PR pro Holly Johnson was my guest a few years ago during a teleseminr called “How to Work with the Travel Media,” she said spa stories were all the rave. They still are. So are spa recipes.
During a teleseminar I sponsored last year called “Publicity Tips for Restaurants, Chefs & Foodies,” I mentioned that following up with reproters who call you is critical, even if you can’t provide information they need for a story. Perhaps you know someone who does. And if you help the media craft a good story, they will view you as a valuable source. https://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/restaurants.htm