The executive editor of an influential technology news site recently replied to my email about a client’s breakthrough new technology. He tried it, had Web connectivity issues, and quickly declared: “Seriously, I’ve looked at several such services, and this is not special. In fact, it’s a generic Windows DaaS service. So, please, stop pitching it…… Continue reading Quote Approval & Fallible Journalists
Category: journalism
An End to False Equivalency?
Of the hundreds of clients and client projects on which I’ve worked over a fairly lengthy career, there are but a handful that I can say remain indelibly etched in my memory.They include the Broadway opening of David Merrick’s “42nd Street,” Michael Jackson’s TV spots for Pepsi, the privacy fight for Dale Earnhardt’s family following…… Continue reading An End to False Equivalency?
On Entrepreneurs & Earned Media
Penenberg joins PandoDaily (Illustration by Hallie Bateman)Leave it to Jeff Domansky (aka @theprcoach) to draw this blogger’s attention to a rant by one of the more astute observers of today’s tech scene – Sarah Lacy (aka @sarahcuda).Writing for her thought-leading tech news site PandoDaily (which just hired Fast Company’s Adam Penenberg as its editor), Ms. Lacy rails…… Continue reading On Entrepreneurs & Earned Media
The VC vs. the PR Pro
I recently had conversation with a New York tech entrepreneur about the growing ability of the top venture capital firms to drive media coverage for their portfolio companies.He not only validated my sense that many tech and business journalists take their cues from prominent VCs, but explained that a company like Andreessen Horowitz directs its…… Continue reading The VC vs. the PR Pro
12 Must-Know Media Sites
In December 2006, I posted a piece titled “The Nouveau Niche Media” about all those new blogs and their growing influence over more traditional media, and commensurate allure to PR pros. Below are some of the sites I listed back then. They appeared on myriad blogrolls and in many an RSS reader:”…as someone who’s toiling…… Continue reading 12 Must-Know Media Sites
Whitney, Twitter & SONY’s Tin Ear
Whitney Houston’s untimely demise produced all sorts of fodder for those following the machinations of the media and marketing worlds. Here’s a topline starting with a tweet from Mashable’s Pete Cashmore: @petecashmore Twitter Breaks News of Whitney Houston Death 27 Minutes Before Press RT @mashable From the Mashable write-up: “Twenty-seven minutes before mainstream media broke…… Continue reading Whitney, Twitter & SONY’s Tin Ear
Commander in Control
One of the points I had hoped to emphasize in my last post was that Twitter, blogging, Facebook and Google+ offer an even more controlled communications environment than what a fastidiously prepped/messaged executive might face in a media interview.David Carr may give Rupert Murdoch props for his more authentic Twitter persona, but it’s Mr. Murdoch…… Continue reading Commander in Control
Oh, That Test!
Over the summer, my wife and I ran into an old friend: PR maven Robbie Vorhaus on the streets of his hometown of Sag Harbor. I’ve known Robbie for far too many years that I’d care to admit. We reminisced about the PR biz back in the day when the choice of media channels and…… Continue reading Oh, That Test!
Cursed Reporters!
Have you ever wanted to tell-off a reporter for getting it blatantly wrong or worse, ignoring your overtures altogether? As PR pros, we forever had to hold our tongues for fear of alienating the very gatekeepers on whom we relied to tell our clients’ stories.I used to say that client relationships come and go, but…… Continue reading Cursed Reporters!
Truth in PR
Sure it was dumb. And yes, the firm, and the industry in which it prominently resides, have paid a heavy toll for this unfortunate transgression. I’m talking of course about the recent firestorm generated by two former journalists, new to agency life, who email-pitched an influential writer to pen an opinion piece on behalf of…… Continue reading Truth in PR