Bias Blues
Regarding the article, "PR Strategies for Beating Those Rogue Website Blues," (PRN, Dec. 20) the author's disdain for George W. Bush came through loud and clear. The Bush Web site example is a good one, but the slams against him in the article (i.e. references to him "whimpering" and "whining") came off as childish and discredited the author and, by association, your publication. I generally like PR NEWS, but think personal agendas woven into articles turn off a lot of people.
- Tom Richardson
PR Manager, Sports & Racing, Infogrames, North America; [email protected]
Release Me!
Good piece about [the usefulness of] press releases (PRN, Jan. 3), but I have to (slightly) disagree. Not using releases is a great way to pitch individual publications one-on-one. But what happens when you have a major personnel announcement, disclosure requirements or product launch? The news release isn't dead, it's often just used improperly. As I tell my students and my clients...be selective, brief (unless the Lord is returning to Earth, one page is max), truthful, timely, local, newsy and informative. Input we've received from local (e.g., Miami Herald) reporters confirms that journalists have no problem with news releases - if they're good.
-Bill Adams, APR, Fellow PRSA Associate Professor, Florida International University; [email protected]
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