PR POPPIES MUST STOP MONKEYING AROUND

This was probably the toughest week for me in ages. And the source of my discomfort was brought about by people who are purportedly supposed to make our jobs as journalists easier.

I never believed in them anyway and the events of this week made me understand why one top publisher calls them PR poppies.

You see, these people are mainly good looking but small-brained women who work for cash-making public relations firms.

Part of their job is disseminating information – or rather sugar-coated press releases – on behalf of their clients to all media houses.

However, these either former beauty queens, former TV continuity presenters or just university graduates usually have no idea what the media is or how it works.

You have to believe me, some of them will send you information about curling and when you call them to verify certain facts you realise they actually thought curling was a music concert and not an Olympic sport.

The less said about the quality of writing the better – lest I spoil your breakfast. What these dimwits are good at is to call you after dumping one of their poorly written releases in your e-mail to ask if you are going to publish it.

If they would only take the time to read newspapers, they would find answers. And finding out a little more about the person they talk to on the other end of the phone will also do a trick for them. I hate it when someone calls in and asks my name.

Then, after responding, they still ask you “who is the sports editor there, by the way?” I am not exaggerating when I say someone called in this week and asked to speak to a certain reporter.

The reporter they were looking for left this newspaper four years ago. If that reporter had changed careers I’d forgive them, but the journalist in question is working for another publication and his stories are published every Sunday, including today.

And please stop trying to use the lunch and drinks trick, it’s outdated. Journalists earn enough to afford their own meals.

I think it’s about time the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (Prisa) looked closely at such people as they have the potential to damage the image of the industry as a whole. Prisa must crack the whip so hard that all the lions in the big tent that is the PR circus retreat to their cages.

To those who have been doing a great job, my apologies for the generalisation. Your colleagues who have little between their ears are to blame.

And, please, if you send me a press release next time, don’t follow it up with a “do you know if you are going to use it?” call. Just read the paper. Basically, don’t call me, I’ll call you.