Gifts for print journalists? Don’t you dare

Publicity Hound Ek Dari writes:

“I’ve been reading your tips for quite some time now, and love the articles and ezine.

“One question I had was about thanking an editor or journalist. What is the standard on that? I have had successful placements in the New York Times, Washington Post, Fortune, and top-tier magazines, but am not sure how best to thank these people for taking time to meet my client(s) and to write about us.

“I would never think of sending a gift before the piece, but I like to send a little something of appreciation the day it comes out. Any thoughts?”

Here’s what I told her:

Never, ever send a gift to print journalists. Many work for newspapers that have ethics policies that prohibit them from taking anything of value, including gifts and free lunches.

Instead, send a handwritten thank-you note. Don’t use the word “publicity” in the note. Just thank them for their efforts, or their thorough research, or their accuracy, or their in-depth questioning, or their great writing, or whatever.

With broadcasters, it’s different. You can thank (or bribe) them with food before you’re on the show, the day of the shooting, or afterward.