Via Drudge, this survey of Canadian business media. Some gems in answer to: What mistakes do company spokespeople make most often in dealing with the media?
“They don’t have much of a sense of what is news that would interest the general public.”
Translation: News is Entertainment.
“Not understanding our target readers and failing to understand that editorial must be geared toward what readers need, not what they want to sell.”
Translation: Wake up! We’re the Sellers here, not you.
“Avoiding questions. It seems many executives are under the assumption the reporter is out to get them. In reality most of us are only trying to understand the story better and to cover all the angles.”:
Translation: We’re really out to get you. Gotcha !
“Refusing to provide comment on competitive issues and developments surrounding rivals.”
Translation: Just as war reporters know nothing about military strategy, we know nothing about business strategy.
“Getting hostile when journalists ask tough but necessary questions. Accusing media of bias when it’s their obligation to report the news, favorable or not.”
Translation: We really prefer the unfavourable stuff, actually. See Entertainment. See Selling. See Gotcha.
Crossposted at the Shotgun
And, added to the Traffic Jam