Thursday, 9 April 2009

Annoying habits of PRs

My mobile is ringing. I'm driving in a busy line of traffic. I pull the car up on a kerb, answer the phone, and...

Anonymous enthusiastic female voice: "Hi, is that Liz. Is now a good time."

Me: "No" (Thinks...but does it make any difference what I answer you will carry on regardless anyway.)

Anonymous voice: "Hi, my name is Camilla. I'm calling from Whatever, Whatever- with-the-posh-office-in-central-London Public Relations Company... Did you get my press release? Yes, it was about how green tea can reduce ridges in your nails, now it's summer time. Apparently, Emma Bunton has been seen drinking green tea and she has lovely nails. I was just wondering if you might be interested in writing a story about this?"

Me: Thinks (Er, No. Not if it was the last possible press release on the planet. Get lost, have you seen my inbox full of PR crap - email after email of story-free press releases about stuff I would never ever write about. And PR salaries are probably double journalists (not that I'm bitter. Well actually I am) Have you no idea what a "story" actually is. AAAAGhhhh. Go away Camilla).

Me: Actually says "Oh thanks, but it's not really my kind of thing. But thanks anyway".

AAAAAAAAAAAghhh. I know PRs are told to ring after they have sent a press release, to check the journalist has received it. But how tedious and how ridiculous is this. If it were a story and I were interested in it, I would ring the PR.

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