Have you joined my incredibly non-annoying, once-in-a-while email newsletter?
Ah, PR people. How I love you.
Today’s HARO had some very interesting queries – All from the same reporter – a woman named April Phules. Sometimes, she worked for a national magazine, while other times she worked for a TV station, and other times, a business magazine.
April Phules is one busy reporter.
She posted queries like this one:
3) Summary: Death via MatzohName: April Phules (National TV Morning Show)Category: Biotech and HealthcareEmail: [email protected] Outlet: National TV Morning ShowDeadline: 07:00 PM EST – 1 AprilQuery:I need to speak to doctors or Rabbis to discuss the disturbingtrend of more and more people dying from eating too much Matzoh.A recent study found that more people would prefer to actuallynot eat for eight days, then eat Matzoh. I need to speak topeople familiar with this problem.
or this one
21) Summary: New Movie Tech: BEING IN THE MOVIEName: April Phules (National Magazine)Category: Entertainment and MediaEmail: [email protected] Outlet: National MagazineDeadline: 07:00 PM EST – 1 AprilQuery:Hollywood, not content with just 3-D, has apparently a newtechnology set to unveil soon: BEING IN THE MOVIE. People can goto a movie theater for of the movie of their choice and literallybe transported to the action in the film. There will be massivedisclaimers, though, since people may be hurt or, worse casescenario, killed by the denizens of the movie. Will that dissuadepeople?
But the one that got the most reaction by FAR, was this one:
Summary: Why don’t PR people listen?Name: April Phules (Business Magazine)Category: GeneralEmail: [email protected] Outlet: Business MagazineDeadline: 07:00 PM EST – 1 AprilQuery:I’m doing a story about PR people, and why they have a much lowerability to listen or follow directions than regular people. Isthis something they’re born with, or something they learn oncegetting into PR? All answers welcome.
We also had queries about men in Speedos, and the new Toyota “Screamer,” a new car that got amazing gas mileage because it didn’t have any brakes.
All of April Phules’ emails routed to us here at HARO, naturally.
With that, we’d like to share some of April’s best responses, and wish all of you a Happy April Fools’ Day. And yes, we were nice enough to mask some of the names and companies. Wouldn’t wanna get anyone fired.
Tony notes:
This is insulting, April. Is this stereotype any more acceptable than making a racist comment? Hardly.
There are good PR practitioners and flacks just like there are good journalists and hacks.
I’ve been practicing public relations for 24 years and one of the keys to my success has always been I’m a good listener.
Charles wanted to know where April got her information:
Just curious: What data are you operating on in regards to “PR people, and why they have a much lower ability to listen or follow directions than regular people”? I mean, is this something someone has actually studied, or is it your own opinion?
While over at an agency in San Francisco (on Market Street,) an over-zealous and under-caffeinated Account Director suggested that April talk to a branding company about how Toyota was handling the release of the “Screamer.”
For your upcoming story about Toyota and its new Screamer, please consider speaking with (REDACTED), founding partner of (REDACTED) Branding (www.(REDACTED.com), an integrated brand consultancy. REDACTED’s clients include major brands such as REDACTED. Best, REDACTED.
RS, from an unnamed Media company, has a definite answer about the Screamer:
The Toyota Screamer could destroy Toyota. However, targeting a younger audience who want to brag to their friends that they have a Screamer could triple sales. The key will be the selling price. It has to be affordable to people in their 20s.
So I guess RS thinks that only younger people should have a car without brakes. OK.
Back to the query on PR people:
Gini Dietrich of Arment Dietrich, Inc., thought it was funny – She’d just written a blog post on how Introverts make better listeners, and invited Ms. Phule to read it. That was nice of her.
Oh, we have plenty more – Enough for several blog posts – But we’ll leave it at this. Thanks for playing, everyone! Happy April First!
