what do journalists think of pr professionals? dwpub survey 2014
DESCRIPTION
Headline results from the DWPub research into journalist attitudes to public relationsTRANSCRIPT
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Daryl Willcox@darylwillcox
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What do journalists think of PR people?
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We surveyed journalists between 19 August and 12 September 2014
Journalist contacts came from our FeaturesExec Media Database, which covers all media types and all sectors
For example BBC Newsnight, The Daily Express, The Scotsman, Cotswold Life, Estates Gazette, Concrete Magazine, The Lawyer, Shropshire Star, Financial Times
Over 400 journalists responded, 85% staff and 15% freelance
The survey
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Do PR professionals understand what a journalist needs?
Yes
No
Not sure
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Several comments suggest former journalists have a better idea than PRs who don’t have a journalism backgroundRegional respondents pointed to a lack of understanding of the need for a local hook in order to be relevant to local mediaPerception among many that it is mostly junior PRs contacting journalists with little understanding of what the journalist needsThe ones that understand journalists’ needs are highly valued:‘Some PR agencies I deal with are absolutely lovely. They know exactly what my readers will be interested in.’
Do PR professionals understand what a journalist needs?
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Q. Has there been an improvement in the professional quality of PR professionals in recent years?
Has there been an improvement?
Yes
No
Don't know
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85% Timely and relevant info
73% Emails rather than calls
45% Short pitches
31% No stonewalling
3% Nothing
What do you want from a PR professional?
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Honesty is the best policy – if you can’t do something then just say so
Good knowledge of clients and their industry
“I can't believe we still get PRs calling the news desk of the Daily Star and asking for our Fine Arts editor!”
“A clear understanding that their role (to promote/look after the interests of clients) is different from our role (to break stories of interest and relevance to our readers) if we are doing our jobs properly”
What do you want from a PR professional?
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Email is the overwhelming winner
89% Email
18% PhoneSome don’t mind getting well-targeted exclusive stories over the phone
A few were very negative about pitches via social media (only 5% happy to be pitched via Twitter)
How do you prefer to be contacted?
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79% Understanding the media outlet
73% Understanding what makes news
37% Quality of written pitches
What aspects of how PRs contact you could be better?
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The overriding consensus is that
journalists just want PR professionals to
understand their media outlet, sector
and audience and to make sure pitches
are relevant and have news value
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More details on the survey can be found on the DWPub blog:
blog.dwpub.com