12 Frequently Irritating PR Habits
Written by Michael Eastwood Founder & CEO of Mastermind Promotion

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12 Frequently Irritating PR Habits
In response to the list of 12 irritating client habits, we figured we’d balance things out with a list of 12 PR habits that annoy journalists. It’s all to simply highlight the fact that PR is a process and that there are standards that need to be met, as well as acknowledging the fact that it’s a machine run by humans and humans alone.
So without further delay, here’s a rundown of the kinds of things PR firms do that really rub journalists up the wrong way:
- The overuse of “thrilled.” You know it’s a press release when someone is thrilled. Disingenuous isn’t strong enough to describe this.
- The infographic “exclusive.” A “visualized” press release is still a press release.
- The dial-in conference number. Once upon a time two people could have a conversation without three others silently tuning in.
- The call following up an email. There’s probably a reason for the lack of an initial reply.
- Re-sending emails that got no response. Silence speaks volumes.
- The presumptuous meeting. “I’m meeting who? Why? What is this calendar invite?”
- Using personal information from social media in pitches. Creepy.
- The guilt trip. We all have client pressures, but journalists have no feelings.
- The big-time. Copying the boss won’t help, it will make future emails mysteriously land in the spam folder of the journalist.
- Asking to review quotes for the “story angle.” Are you nervous? You sound nervous. Why are you nervous?
- Babysitting in-person meetings. A coffee where two people are talking and one is observing isn’t normal.
- Facebook friend requests. Are you sure we know each other?
