This endorsment brought to you by… the journos
So is there any journalist in Australia who isn’t currently endorsing a product, organisation or PR agency?
You might think that the PR-journo relationship is one of arms-length independence. Or you might not, based on the journo-love to be found.
Staking a claim to be champion of the discipline is James Livesley, editor of B&T Today – a fine online publication (and Dr Mumbo’s beloved former employer) but one not previously known for its holiday destination expertise. Although it looks like that’s all about to change. In yesterday’s edition of B&T Today, Livesley tells his readers: “As a hard working media and marketing professional, and with the summer holidays fast approaching we thought you might want some help planning your Christmas break.”
For those who are interested, James recommends Macau – “Food, historical attractions, thrill-seeking adventures and beachside relaxation”; Miami – “It’s not a plastic surgeon’s showroom nor a pornstar convention. It’s classic Miami beach”; Fiji – “Ahoy!” and Queensland “It’s not all daquiris and sunset strolls”. Helpfully there’s even a link to where you can read more in an advertiser-funded newsletter.
And once you’ve decided where to take your summer holiday, there are plenty of jouranlists who can help you decide which PR agency to hire, should the urge take you.
Over Five Star PR there’s a beautiful friendship with Jenny Burns, editor of AFTA Traveller Magazine. She says: “Five Star PR delivers excellence. Managing Director Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan has been in the travel industry for over 15 years. Five Star PR is successful in the travel industry because of their boutique nature, their never say die but friendly attitude, and their excellent contacts. I would have no hesitation in recommending them as one of the best PR companies specializing in travel for the Australian market.”
Which is a hearty endorsement indeed. And a view shared by Travel journo Tim “the Yowie Man”, who adds: “If I needed a travel destination to be promoted, I’d go straight to Five Star PR.”
And Brad Crouch, travel editor of the Sunday Mail in Adelaide contributes: “Whether it be a press release, a media conference or a full-blown international familiarisation, in my experience they have been both friendly and faultless which in turn gives me great confidence when dealing with them.”
At Magnum PR it’s just as lovely. Kasey McDonald, beauty editor of Who Magazine says: “The team at Magnum PR always look after me above and beyond the call of duty and in turn, I love supporting their fabulous clients.”
While Sharon Goldstein, beauty editor of OK! Magazine: ” The Magnum PR team are always extremely proactive with keeping me in the loop of what’s new as well as being at the ready to assist me with any kind of random request. Thanks ladies!” No, no. Thank you, Sharon.
The male journos love Magnum too.Russell Gould, former Sports Editor of mX says: “Thanks to Magnum PR I have been able to fill the pages of my paper with awesome stories and photos detailing some of the most adrenalin-filled adventures on the planet. ”
And Arthur Stanley, sports news editor of The Daily Telegraph opines: “It is a pleasure to work with Magnum PR and the steady stream of story ideas we have had from you this year has truly been valuable. I was delighted to hear of your recent Golden Target Award. It was well-deserved recognition for your company and the great job you do, both for your clients and for journalists.”
Polkadot PR is another smash hit with the hacks.
Among the many comments on the agency website, Shonagh Walker, Contributing Beauty Director – Good Health and Medicine says: “I love working with the team at Polkadot PR. I find that every request is met efficiently and I always receive the latest information on product launches, complete with every detail in place – price, press release, on sale date and any extras that I may need. Polkadot PR is a breath of fresh air in what can often be a somewhat stale industry.”
Adds the Tele’s Byron Kaye: “I have worked with the Polkadot PR team for some time now, and always found them highly professional. They come to me with solid story leads, have arranged experts for comment at short notice and are quick to respond to questions.”
Nic McClure, executive producer,of Nova’s Merrick & Rosso show says: “Polkadot PR understands our target demographic and only brings to the table ideas specifically for our audience, which makes the process professional, time saving and always a win-win situation for their clients, and our goals for the show. I am ALWAYS pleased with the results.”
Joanna Hall, co-editor of Ultimate Travel magazine even uses exclamation marks. “I have been working with Dionne Moskow and the Polkadot PR team for several years. Dionne and her team do whatever it takes to get the job done; as a journalist, this makes my life, and getting good stories into print, much easier!’
And Sarah Tarca, beauty editor, of Girlfriend magazine also bestows an exclamation mark on Polkadot: “The team are passionate without being pushy (an important distinction!) and have always been a pleasure to deal with.”
Who on earth said that journalists are always negative?
topics
B&T
B&T Today
James Livesley
journalism
journalists
Magnum PR
media news
PR
public relations
Sarah Tarca
Nothing wrong with journos bigging up PR agencies they have respect for. It makes sense. They should know which are good after all… I hope that I’ll soon be bigging up Red PR, who we just appointed as the agency for our magazine relaunch 🙂
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Good on ’em but I can’t help but find it a bit odd.
Thats a bit dodgy. Hard to trust their opinion now, as you dont know if its a real one or a paid-for one.
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hey Jen,
I’d have to say I disagree with you there. Mumbrella wouldn’t be reporting on the issue if there wasn’t a whiff of controversy 🙂
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That fact hadn’t entirely passed me by Sam, don’t worry! 😉 Notice I bypassed the holiday mention!
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Now all we need is journalists going anonymously on social media sites promoting products, nyuk, nyuk.
He forgot to mentionthe world’s most persistent prostitutes in Macau too.
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As one of Australia’s leading journalists said to my PR class yesterday: “Many journalists are lazy” (so PR helps them along). There’s no surprise there. Estimates are that up to 70-80 per cent of media content is PR-generated. The fawning endorsements, though, are a bit over the top. @prlab
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Hmm Nic McClure’s quote as Breakfast producer of Merrick & Rosso show is so old you’d need to dust it off and carbon date it. She hasn’t been their producer for about 3 or 4 years now, nice relic Polkadot PR.
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Quite frankly if a PR agency can provide a bespoke story “idea”, it can be win/win in some cases…so long as integrity and ethics aren’t compromised. There is a fine balance possible and I think both parties need each other.
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Nor is Casey McDonald the beauty editor at WHO anymore… she left about a month ago.
So what our industries are finally starting to build bridges and admit that we work together? It’s a good thing! Ultimately if a PR person provides a journo what they need, when they need it then its a win-win situation.
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My apologies – Kasey McDonald.
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Great story:
The shock is that so many media people think that their PR (ie corporate) liaisons are normal and acceptable. They ain’t!
When paying the piper gets media time/space, we’re doomed to be dancing forever to the corporates’ tunes.
Which of course is why commercial TV has become so hideously conservative, vapid, repetitive and vile.
Media demands independent new thoughts, excitement, risk, analysis, etc.
Which is why the internet is boomsville…
BTW:
When The Oz’s Media section celebrated 10 years a few months back, Lachlan M wrote that he’d started the thing because he liked the Guardian’s media supplement. But today’s Oz’s is pathetic totally PR-driven crap, most of it for NewsLtd’s product. VOMIT!!!
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“The folks at Oil & Slime PR are just wonderful to deal with, generate great leads, and treat me with the respect and deference I know I deserve”
There, I’ve said it.
Can I have my overseas junket now?
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