tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102619445313518313.post2119132389035773058..comments2013-05-23T13:03:15.663+01:00Comments on Playing the game (real adventures in journalism): Release the press releaseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102619445313518313.post-10806499918399776652009-07-13T13:48:49.278+01:002009-07-13T13:48:49.278+01:00You're absolutely right in saying that by dele...You're absolutely right in saying that by deleting the dross reporters can spend more time looking for quality leads (as I used to) - common sense, really. Sadly though, this common sense just doesn't apply in the majority of newsrooms I know of at present. Take mine for example - I'm currently the sole churnalist at my weekly and I can tell you now that without using crap PR emails there's simply no way I could fill the paper.<br /><br />I started as a migratory freelancer before opting for the regular paycheck, but would swop my deskbound status for a wander in my patch at the drop of the proverbial hat. Thing is, at present it just ain't possible as I can't afford to worry about quality - all that matters (for the management, and thus, for me) is that the paper gets out on time. Obviously if it doesn't, my ass will be in a sling...and I know a lot of other weekly and, god forbid, daily reporters who are in exactly the same position.<br /><br />So despite sensing a hint of rhetoric in your column, I'd suggest you employ the pragmatism evident in your previous entry - I certainly don't know every reporter in the UK but of the many I do, deskbound hacking and churnalism seems to be the order of the day and email is a necessary evil to enable them and me to get the job done. Personally I think it stinks but at least I'm still in a job...unlike most of my editorial colleagues of 18 months ago. You said it yourself mate, we're all fucked!<br /><br />On a final note, great blogging, please keep up the good work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102619445313518313.post-37909071012610673962009-07-08T20:39:44.062+01:002009-07-08T20:39:44.062+01:00I agree. Information is power and a lot of the stu...I agree. Information is power and a lot of the stuff you get through email can be filleted and regurgitated. <br />But the point I was trying (badly) to make was if you ignored everything that came through on email or as a press release for one week and just wrote about the stuff your reporters got on the streets and from contacts would your paper (or readers) really miss out on the actual news?blunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05651745771086581685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102619445313518313.post-45470760372067095082009-07-08T11:31:05.538+01:002009-07-08T11:31:05.538+01:00I've been quite impressed with this blog so fa...I've been quite impressed with this blog so far but this post is a bit shit really.<br /><br />Yes, 95% of press releases are inane pointless bullshit and we got by without them before, but they have become an important tool in our overall newsgathering. <br /><br />My readers want to know about all the events going on in the patch - and I don't know a single newspaper out there which has the resources to look at every notice board, contact every dance club, attend every WI meeting or buy a weekly pint for the local pigeon fancier. Often the best way for people to get their message out is to send me a press release. <br /><br />And I'm certainly not going to charge them for letting me know what's going on in the community.<br /><br />And even the press releases from councils, police, fire, rail company, Government depts etc regularly generate interesting stories. <br />A lot of the stuff our crack team of journalists (who of course were all born on the patch) should already know about, but they often contain gems waiting to be polished.<br /><br />Unless you have a team of 20 reporters scouring your patch with a pair of tweezers you'll never cover everything.<br /><br />Yes we waste a lot of time wading through them, but with them we're able to cover a lot more than ever before.BarryJesusnoreply@blogger.com