Strive Notes

Regular readers of Strive Notes will know that I write a weekly column in the Isle of Man Examiner. It’s called Tech Talk and I focus on general technology sector news and information.  On occasion local companies contact me with their news and if I think the story is interesting enough I’ll write about it. Yesterday this note hit my email box:

Hi Sherrilynne,

As the PR agency for X Company, someone has informed us that you are always looking for ideas for your column in Business News.  If ok with you, we have a few ideas that we would like to write about specifically for your column as well as a few articles we have written in the past on topics such as XXX and their XXX for you to use as you see fit.

As I’m sure you are not likely to use these in their full form, but edit them as you see fit, I would ask that because these have all been approved in their final form by our client that you run the final version of what you plan to publish by us first, if and when you decide to use anything.  This is just so that we can make sure their message is kept consistent, as I’m sure you understand.

Please let me know if this is ok with you, and if interested, we will send a few past articles through and work out a plan where we supply you with an article on a new topic regularly (maybe once a month or so).  Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

Kind regards,

Ms PR Professional

Ok so, putting aside the fact that the writer’s grasp of the English language is suspect undermining the service being offered, let’s look a bit closer at what is being proposed.

First of all someone told her that a newspaper columnist needs ideas?  This seems like pretty basic assumption for even newest of PRs.

Then, she’d like to write my column for me?  This indicates a lack of understanding of the very fundamentals of journalism:  A column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. What differentiates a column from other forms of journalism is that it meets each of the following criteria:

• It is a regular feature in a publication
• It is personality-driven by the author
• It explicitly contains an opinion or point of view

To propose to write my column on my behalf would be insulting if it wasn’t so laughably amateur.  And to offer it not once, but regularly, monthly even, hilarious.

To ask to see my copy before it’s published?  Erm the only response I can think of is ‘Foxtrot Oscar!’  How could anyone who calls themselves a media professional ask such a thing?

When I read this pitch I laughed so hard I fell off my chair.  When I picked myself up I realised I have a moral dilemma.  Should I let this PR’s boss know that she sends out pitches like this?  Should I let their client know how they are being represented?  What would you do?

Filed under: public relations