PR professionals sometimes go to great lengths to impress the media. And don't think reporters don't appreciate a good wooing. From gifts to junkets to love offerings,
journalists remember the companies and PR counselors who take care of them. But even more impressive than a trip to exotic lands is a relationship that affords a journalist access
to rich information and top-level experts..
In the third and final part of our What Journalists Think survey of more than 30 reporters and editors at Phillips Business Information (publishers of PR NEWS), we take a look
at what wowed our colleagues.
Q: What was the most impressive pitch you received in the past six months?
A: John Sullivan of Sterling Hager provided key executives from Davox for CTI News - not just when their company had news, but for commentary on other industry issues,
particularly acquisitions. Having access to impartial, educated third-party opinions made my reporting more well-rounded and insightful.
- Evan Bass, editor Fiber Optics News (formerly editor of CTI News)
A: One example that did impress me was when Colin Sullivan of Unisphere called me up to ask me how he should go about dealing with the media. PR people rarely do that. He
wanted to know the appeal of phone-in press conferences with top execs. I told him that I appreciate: 1) access without having to spend hours setting up an interview; 2) access on
days when big news is breaking...without these, everybody clogs the phone lines trying to get the same people; and 3) the ability to ask questions and get unscripted answers,
unlike a press release.
- Paul Clark, editor, Communications Today
A: A PR woman in Minnesota offered to hook me up on a blind date with her babe friend in New York City.
- John Scheinman, Assistant Managing Editor, Electronic Commerce News
A: It has to be the pitch I received about the new launch and customer facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They followed up with the promise of a visit, tour
of the facility, social event in Moscow and a performance by the Bolshoi, as well as the viewing of a Proton launch and mucho vodka at the post-launch party.
- Scott Chase, executive editor, Via Satellite/Launchspace