A colleague of mine took a call today that changed the way this office perceives a certain publication (which will remain nameless).
He had pitched a story in to the News Editor the week before and had been snapped at and told that if he had sent the press release then they would look at it and decide whether they wanted to pursue it.
Now we all know that a major part of our job is getting on the telephone and pitching a story. It is quicker for a journalist to hear a quick 'phoner' than to have to read a press release and calling is more effective than email pitching. BUT as we all know if journalists were to take all the calls they get from PROs then they wouldn't have any time to write. This is our spiky co-existence so my colleague, like all experienced PROs, is used to getting an occasionally cranky soul on the other end of the line so he just made a mental note of this journalists preferences and got on with the next call.
Today the same journalist phoned him up to apologise for being rude and to explain. He didn't have to and it was completely applauded in the office.It just goes to show that a few manners go a long way!
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