With such close ties between PR reps and journalists, and such similar passions, you'd think the two would be as complementary as Justin Beiber and nail polish...haha, that's actually a fantastic comparison!
Anyone in the industry quickly learns that journalists have some ancient grudge with PR reps. Why is this? Obvious things like: not researching your editors beat before pushing hoards of irrelevant press releases, calling all the time with "spam," carrying yourself as a gatekeeper to management rather than working with the press too, or not being adequately informed enough to support your story.
PR reps ill will toward journalists stems from terror of bad press, a blasé attitude and false pretentiousness.
I think the time has come that we can look past it. After all, we are obligated to admit we can’t live without each other. There’s the issue that perhaps we don’t get enough credit from the other, which may be true…. but who needs that? I respect journalists to the end of the world, they put up with antics most people in their right mind couldn’t, just to find the objective truth. I can’t even begin to explain the grievances PR reps deal with—they’re the face to a company nonetheless.
Writers- Feel flattered you’re being chased. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that journalists’ main issue is that they’re hounded with news. So the bicker is that you have to sit back and filter through the influx of material you didn’t have to find yourself? So sorry….
And PR reps- Don’t bite the hand that feeds. Journalists have unfortunate hours, as do we, and everyone bitches. The mouth behind the bitching is the one producing your needs though. Without them, we wouldn’t have a job. Or perhaps Twitter has come to save the future….
Either way, new innovations are lubricating the trails to a smooth relationship. RSS feeds, smart phones, social media, online pressrooms are all making the obstacle slightly smoother. Let’s aim our antagonism toward a more constructive field…. inane bloggers.
