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I get these all the time from SV startup PR firms. "Story Idea: 5 innovative new uses for Docker/Containers/Mongo" etc. it's one of the fastest ways to ensure I
by abakker 9y ago
I get these all the time from SV startup PR firms. "Story Idea: 5 innovative new uses for Docker/Containers/Mongo" etc. it's one of the fastest ways to ensure I never write about something.
- gnicholas 9y agoSo if a PR firm is working for Startup A and pitches a list that includes Startup A-E, then you wouldn't write about any of them? Or can you tell in advance who is paying the bill?
- abakker 9y agoThey way it goes is that the PR firm sends me a basically fully written story, and offers to get me on the phone with one of their marketing folks to get a quote. Sometimes, it's just a press release, but with a bunch of prewritten social shares for me. Here's an example, anonymized. I got this 2 weeks ago - https://pastebin.com/xwjiUhwS https://pastebin.com/xwjiUhwS Not egregious, in this case, but, pretty presumptive on the part of PR.
- abakker 9y agoI guess, on reflection, the behavior that seems most frustrating is pitching it as a "Story Idea". I would prefer to have had "An offer to speak with CEO of XYZ". But, in fairness, as an analyst I have slightly different priorities that the average journalist. (not saying they're better priorities, just different)
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]