Stealth PR, Blog Outreach Lessons, and Other PR Blog Jots

Going Negative

Strumpette

In his weekly “Gospel” for Strumpette, Phil Hall argues against using what he deems “stealthy PR” in an effort to smear the competition.  Hall argues that any attention (even negative) given to the other side, particularly if it is a smaller competitor, is more than they would normally receive, so why bother? Furthermore, the aggressor in these situations is almost always found out, and winds up looking like a sleazy bully. “What is the best way to smear the competition? Play up your client, company or organization with killer, high-profile, positive PR. Smear tactics are for idiots, not PR professionals.”

Pitching Bloggers Takes Finesse

Shel Holtz

After reading a post at Church of the Customer warning against pitching to bloggers you don’t already know, Shel Holtz advises that reaching out to bloggers, while surely different than reaching out to mainstream media sources, is a vital element to communications—so long as it is done correctly.  In a great post, he outlines the various nuances a PR pro needs to know before reaching out. “I’ve never had anyone reject my outreach efforts or suggest that I was a clueless PR person because I had contacted them on my client’s behalf. And the outreach generally produces exactly the desired results.”

Tragic Impact

Crisisblogger

Gerald Baron seeks out how the tragedy at Virginia Tech last week will ultimately impact the world of crisis communications.  He notes that one major thing to remember when dealing with a crisis of such massive proportions is that the media, especially what Baron calls the “infotainment jackals” are always looking for someone to blame (in this case, much of the focus has been on the university’s president). But the ultimate change coming from this horrific event will no doubt be in mass communications via SMS messaging, better known as text messaging. “I suspect that many people will soon start to ask the question–if a university can reach all students by cell phones and text messaging, why shouldn’t I be alerted if there is a rape, or murder, or bomb explosion, or toxic release, or some other health and life event taking place in my town, my city, my neighborhood?”

Censorship, or Just Good PR?

Tough Sledding

In a final reflection on Don Imus’ recent firing for using racial slurs on-air, Bill Sledzik ponders the implications for media and PR professionals.  He notes Imus has learned the lesson that “free speech isn’t free,” and that while a popular public relations decision that was ultimately more economic than moral, the firing does amount to censorship.  Sledzik wonders if future satirists or insult comics will end up thinking twice before they speak, lest they wind up in the middle of their own PR crisis. “On the positive side, maybe a few media loudmouths will choose their words more carefully from now on. But others may say nothing at all for fear of offending someone and ending up unemployed. Political comedy and satire in media will be under the microscope like never before.”