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Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 21, 2008
Finally, what can we learn from 2008, anyway… That being a wimp (lots of us were woos character studies) is no way to do business when you’re hired to be a communicator of messages that are at least a little distinctive.
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 21, 2008
We’d be remiss if we let the holidays pass without wishing everyone in the Bad Pitch blog universe a Happy Holidays. Let’s kick 09 in the arse, ok? For those of you who frequent the Young PR Pros list, you’ll know there’s another sheriff in town over there. Greg Brooks is now a co-moderator. He penned the piece below and was kind enough to let us re-post it here. Enjoy. Twas the night before Christmas And all through the world Santa was thinking about flack boys and girls.
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Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 28, 2008
From: FLACK@anagency.com Subject: Urgent To: HACK1@yahoo.com Date: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 2:42 PM HACK1, It has come to my attention that you and HACK2 have promised stories to both HOTEL1 and HOTEL2, neither which have seen the results of the stays they provided. From: HACK1@yahoo.com Subject: Re: Urgent To: FLACK@anagency.com Date: August 12, 2008 6:29:08 PM EDT FLACK, You were one item on my list that I neglected to take care of. Woah, this is pure Friday fodder.
Bad Pitch Blog
NOVEMBER 23, 2008
We''re not sure if we''re outing this person or giving them a Presidential pardon like they do for one lucky Thanksgiving turkey. But when someone asked the Bad Pitch Blog to review a children''s book, we weren''t sure if we should laugh or cry. Hello. I''d like to let you know about Flightless Goose, a new full-color, hardcover story book for children being released this month by PUBLISHER.
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
The posts are from 2007 and 2008 so it looks like the content here is getting better. Peter Shankman and I spoke to a sliver of HARO’s near 30,000 members yesterday about better media relations. A flood of new folks are reading Bad Pitch Blog as a result, so I thought I’d post our top 20 posts according to AideRSS as a helpful review. Ready to Pitch a Blog? Take This Quiz First PR People Suck!
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 20, 2008
As a result, we have not been able to post to the blog since Monday, August 4, 2008. Did you miss us? It''s been more than two weeks since we posted here. What can we say, the dog ate our password. Actually an “over eager Blogger spam attack robot from hell” thought our blog was "one of those" types of blogs. A Blogger employee finally took pity on us and jimmied the lock. This mix up is all the funnier when you consider we’re trying to stop spam…not promote it.
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 30, 2008
News came last week that the Old Grey Lady is starting an Instant Op-Ed feature online. This new technology will "allow the paper''s Web site to post immediate expert viewpoints on breaking news," said Editorial Page Editor Andrew Rosenthal. Thank you, New York Times. I am now completely keyed in to why your stock has dropped so heavily. I mean, golly, imagine. Now for the first time, I can get Maureen Dowd''s opinion on something before tomorrow''s paper comes out!
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 6, 2008
Just got an e-mail as a follow-up to one sent to me yesterday. Evidently I cover Anime**. And evidently I fall into one of the gajillion email groups this person created for contacting Anime media. Both emails list the following groups in the TO: field. I''ve bolded my favorites.
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
A news release is not a pitch. Well, neither is this intro I just received. Dear Mr. Kevin Dugan, Please consider the press release below for publication in an upcoming issue, either on-line or in print. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks in advance for your consideration. Some things evidently are worth repeating as we’ve talked about the need for pitches before.
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 8, 2008
Anyone following Brian Morrissey on Twitter may assume he hates PR people. I’m here to tell you he doesn’t. He does hate PR spam. As digital editor at Adweek, he gets a ton of it. After seeing him out a bad pitch this morning, I sent him a note asking for his help in reducing PR spam. He was kind enough to oblige by doing this Q&A. Morrissey is also a multitasker.
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 27, 2008
Writing is one of the most critical skills in public relations. And let''s face it, everyone’s writing can improve. Here are some tips to keep your words working for you and not against you. 1) Word of the Day | Daily Writing Tips The odds of referencing a pyrrhic victory in a pitch is slim at best. But the more words you know the more options you have. And sometimes a story calls for a 50-cent word.
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
I am writing to you from 35,000 feet where American and something badly branded as Gogo Inflight has granted me 12 buck access to the Internet. I mean, welcome to the 2000''s, right? Today the New York Times announced another 500 cut from the payroll - and honey they shrunk the sections! Last month the SacBee hit some 75 percent of their folks. And a huge layoff happened just now at the St Petersburg daily. What''s it mean?
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 27, 2008
We were working on a post called, “Ode to Jason Calacanis.” It’s more of a poem really…using lots of colorful, urban language, including words that rhyme with “brother trucker.” Luckily Richard Edelman made our rant poem moot with this post.** "I am heartily sick of the ad hominem attacks and cheap shots taken by those who would try to draw attention to themselves. snip snip Edelman shows us THE best way to respond to a p **g match – with authority. He also hits upon why we started this blog.
Bad Pitch Blog
NOVEMBER 3, 2008
We were cleaning out the archives and found our back story –- how the Bad Pitch blog was born. Cue squiggly lines and narrator’s voice… - The seeds for the Bad Pitch Blog were planted in 1995 when the book “Toxic Sludge is Good for You,” used some specific events to discredit the entire public relations industry. This book did not sit well with Kevin Dugan.
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 28, 2008
We sometimes find ourselves posting about topics that seem more like common freakin’ sense than the finer points of media relations. A standout has been when we’ve talked about and even poked fun at pitches trying to tie their story to current events – no matter how macabre it might seem. So we’ll merely link to this news release so you can see how horribly tasteless, opportunistic and insensitive people can be in this world.
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 22, 2008
We''re sorting through tons of mail and we have some decent posts brewing. But today was noteworthy as one pitch in particular made the rounds. It was not the only bad pitch out there. But as I reviewed it I was inspired to single it out and pay homage to the SNL skit Really?! with Seth and Amy. A blog pitch. Really?! Not merely a pitch to a blog, but a pitch about a blog to a blog?! Really?! Did you send the pitch to your blog as well or was it implied that your boss would link to himself?
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 22, 2008
We’re all about pitches, good and bad. To prove it, we created Glinda the Good Pitch back in the day. But our badge of dishonor Slick has always gotten more air time. It’s a simple case of supply and demand folks. So we were ecstatic when we started receiving emails from Carol Blymire. Carol Blymire has been copying us on emails for a few months now as she tries to engage PR people about bad pitches sent her way. Carol runs the blog French Laundry at Home.
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 28, 2008
Here’s a story of a lovely lady — who is so pissed off she turned to me to vent! Richard,” she wrote. Here’s a really stupid email pitch.” What she meant: What’s wrong with this woman? First, the pitch – which I have to say is about the dumbest I’ve seen in many months, so her name is left in (sorry Kev): [Brackets mine.] And I got to say this is the first bad pitch about cake, which I did not think was possible, since I''m all about the sweets in life!
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 5, 2008
I know what you’re thinking: Here he goes, another high-powered PR exec complaining about crappy customers. Guess what? That’s what this is. I’ve heard it said innumerable times how our jobs would be magnificent—were it not for the clients. During a recession (welcome to it, dude) there is no better time to live that motto. I’ve been thinking, and laughing, lately about the way people’s expectations have shot up in ways that are mind-blowing. Gee whiz.
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 2, 2008
Anyone else getting a ton of junk email/invites/notifications on Facebook? Maybe it’s just a sign of age, or soc net fatigue, but I created a short video that offers a guideline** for sending email/invites/notifications on Facebook. The video is not about any one person or a specific group. It’s the inspiration of several efforts over time. ** It bugs me when someone (myself included) posts “rules” about the next shiny new object. We’re still figuring this stuff out.
Bad Pitch Blog
MAY 19, 2008
As the CEO of a PR agency, I can’t even tell you how many potential clients ask “Do I really need PR?” Usually I just answer with a simple and slightly aggravated “Why Yes!” Today, however, I will answer with an example of what a smart, finely crafted and well-timed PR campaign (with strategy) can do. The past few months we have seen historically vilified Microsoft attempt to take the current underdog, Yahoo, over with a slow hand.
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
Services like HARO bring us dozens of media leads in a single email. Press Release Grader evaluates our news releases to make sure they’re tweaked to deliver top online performance. PitchEngine and the news wires help push these releases to the world while Newsvetter delivers our pitches to media via its opt-in network. And online media databases bring us more names and outlets to pitch as even more online tools track and measure the fruits of our labors.
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 12, 2008
Last month Kevin said something that stuck with me: Let’s not be partisan on the blog. It was when I was going to go all Barack on you guys…saying how people had to stop saying how Barry’s Win was a fait accompli. This was just before the convention so I’m glad I didn''t bother. Naturally, I digress. The fact is—Kevin’s right, this is not a place for me to come down on any one side because, a little sincerity here, for the last 2.5
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
Guhmshoo immortalized the Bad Pitch Blog! Now if only my right hand spit fire like that.sigh. More of his work is here. Thanks Guhmshoo! Speaking of banding together to fight the good fight, I added links to our Twitter pages and our Facebook page in the sidebar below. If you want to follow us on these other sites, make with the clicky. Bad Pitch Crime Fighters uploaded by Xanboozled tags | public relations | PR | media relations | media | good pitch | bad pitch | bad pitch blog | guhmshoo
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 31, 2008
Some PR pros may not fully realize the level of responsibility they have to their clients. When you represent a client, your actions reflect their brand. And it’s with this knowledge that I wrote the title to this post. We’re giving HWH PR a Bad Pitch Blog Lifetime Achievement Award for turning client news releases into PR spam for more than two years. HWH PR was also the first agency to be outed as a group.
Bad Pitch Blog
APRIL 6, 2008
Pet parents have until September 18, 2008 to enter. Hi everyone. Happy April. This has been sitting in my in-box for a while and I just had to post it. It’s too funny. See, everyone is so INTO the registered-trademark on their name, it’s like ® and ™ are now part of the vernacular. But it can work against you, as this INSANELY LONG press release proved (I’ve truncated it but left the typos in because they''re deserving).
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 10, 2008
This is Sam, our unofficial mascot. Before going to that big kennel in the sky, he was considered the world’s ugliest dog. We''re not questioning this honor. A more informative, and attractive, breed would be the Bulldog (Reporter). We''re excited to note that The Bulldog Reporter just added our feed to their Daily Dog web site. We are also relieved they did not ask us to swap out Sam as mascot for a Bulldog to help reinforce their brand.
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 3, 2008
Keith O''Brien just announced a PR Week best blog competition. In doing so he pits 32 industry blogs against each other -- tournament style. Vote for the Bad Pitch blog. Click here, then click on our name to vote before end of day, Tuesday, August 5th. We''re up against Voce Communications'' Voce Nation blog. The Voce team provides stiff competition. It''s all the more noteworthy considering that drawn out loitering trial Mike Manuel was embroiled in.
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 2, 2008
Some fun is coming in the next few days. And before the rumble begins, we are finally putting up our new blog logo. Design credit goes to Nick Kastner
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 1, 2008
Happy August. Today''s post is a peek into the thoughts of BusinessWeek''s Stephen Baker (who has been with the magazine for one astounding 21-year tenure!). Baker is one of the New York technology reporters for BusinessWeek; he began to report on tech in Paris (Rue Oswaldo Cruz, 16th ar.) as European correspondent in 1998 smack in middle of the dot calm boom. He came to New York in 2002 as acting senior editor for info tech, and is now a senior writer — also tech.
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 31, 2008
“I heard the news today, oh boy…” PimpMyNews is a new, free service allowing you to hear the latest news from your personally selected mix of news sources and blogs. Anyone with an MP3 player and Internet access can use it. CEO John Atkinson was kind enough to do a quick Q&A with us as we try and find more ways to make it easier for you to know the news. 1) PimpMyNews is a great name and service. What’s the inspiration behind each?
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 6, 2008
Typos are painful. They can even be career-ending. Michael Allison points us to one so funny it’s inspiring a Bad Pitch Blog contest. In the comments below, leave your best, one-line response to this job description that’s running on Monster.com. The winner(s) will be announced next week and receive fame and some swag. one of the) Best Typos Evah uploaded by prblog tags | public relations | PR | typo
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 16, 2008
Peter Shankman created HARO on Facebook and this media relations tool has grown into a free media source matchmaking service with more than 14,000 members. Peter has a really big tool, but he wants your help in making it bigger. Here’s the deal. The more reporters that use HARO, the more valuable it is for you. So tell your media contacts about HARO. If you frequent social networks today, you’re sure to see a lot of member statuses that say “Get Sourced. Get Quoted.
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 16, 2008
"Does it look like a pitch, Brad?" Um, yeah, I guess it does. Watch this space to see what the Bad Pitch Blog looks like
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 13, 2008
If you’re getting this post via e-mail or RSS, you might want to click through for the context of this post. We’re happy to welcome back Ragan Communications to our site. Ragan’s latest event is Corporate Communications and the Social Media Revolution. It is also sponsored by ebay and is being held in San Jose California. Readers of the Bad Pitch blog get a $300 discount.
Bad Pitch Blog
FEBRUARY 26, 2008
At one point or another, you’ll p**s off a journalist. Sometimes you’re just doing your job. Sometimes you’re just doing your job BADLY. Other times you’ll raise their ire for no apparent reason. But before you suggest a gruff editor wasn’t held enough by his mother, suck it up. Second only to coverage, we seek closure in media relations, a definite response. If your response is tinged with bile, consider it without the emotion and move on – NEVER take it personally.
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 30, 2008
A good pitch disappears and turns into a story. A bad pitch becomes the story. tags public relations PR media relations media good pitch bad pitch bad pitch blog
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 22, 2008
We all know the saying a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, in the world of Google, YouTube and all that Web 2.0 mishegos, it''s like millions of dollars. The incessance of the Net is forcing PR pros to move beyond the press release and provide a real multimedia experience. So for those of you that only employ a pitch or release, pay attention to some basic rules of extending what you (we) do. Sorry, including a catchy image or two won''t cut it either.
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 19, 2008
PR people tend to zip it when it comes to politics and blogging. Heavens forbid we express our political beliefs and lose a reader. But regardless of whether you lean left or right, PR people should be political junkies…during the campaign season at a minimum. As I’ve said before, media relations campaigns should be run like political campaigns. Take Michelle Obama and the media ubiquity of what I’ll call “project soft warm fuzzy.”
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 17, 2008
Twitter is like the lottery. It can pay off big, but you have to play to win. Todd Van Hoosear mentioned on Twitter that he was on a conference call with Wall Street Journal tech reporter Kara Swisher, Sam Whitmore and his Media Survey subscribers. Van Hoosear wasn’t bragging, he was offering to field questions from fellow PR people on Twitter during the Q&A portion of the call.
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