Strive Notes

The Press Gazette is running a story about Talk PR telling journalists they could only attend a party if they promised to give the sponsor, Perrier Jouet champagne, a mention. 

According to the story, The Sunday Telegraph’s Tim Walker said Talk PR director Anna Garrett invited him to last week’s Party Belle Époque on condition of getting a mention.  And he didn’t like it one bit.

I don’t know Talk PR, and I haven’t met Anna.  But I’m sure there must be some misunderstanding.  The professionals on both sides of the equation understand the rules. 

We invite the media to events because we hope to gain coverage. We know nothing is ever guaranteed, but usually, journalists are looking for a good story, and so they attend.  If they don’t find something worth writing about, there will be no mention. There is risk involved. If you don’t want to risk it, buy an ad.

I would have loved to hear Talk PR’s side of the story, but they declined to comment. Now who advised them that was a good idea?

Other Strive Notes on the hack/flack divide include:

• An American Tale where a UK journo critiques US PRs
• Product displacement looks a row over expectations of coverage

Filed under: public relations