Real journalists share hilarious PR fails
Journalists use #PRfail on Twitter to flag heinous transgressions by public relations folks. Beyond having a few laughs, industry pros can add these gaffes to their list of don’ts.
As PR pros, we all know there are those pitching missteps that journalists loathe. There are surveys telling us what they prefer and advice on how they like to be pitched.
Did you know, though, that there’s a Twitter account where journalists share #PRfails?
Yes, @SmugJourno retweets reporters’ #PRfail tweets.
It’s a fun account to follow, as not only are many of them laugh-out-loud funny, but you can also gain valuable insight into what not to do when pitching journalists. Have a look:
Another PR triumph. Email addressed to: Dear First Name. #fail
— Winsor Dobbin (@winsordobbin) May 7, 2016
A classic PR 101 mistake. No reporter is going to feel special when you make this error.
Or this:
the warm hug of a PR email beginning “dear media”
— brad esposito (@braddybb) March 25, 2016
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
