Hacks v Flacks?

I’m currently writing an article about why there is a crossover between PRs and journalists. It’s really making me examine my own choices and has revealed some extremely interesting viewpoints from hacks who are now flacks and vice versa.

One of the things that strikes you first are the similarities between so called ‘hacks’ (journalists) and the ‘flacks’ (the PRs). These labels do nothing to dispel myths about either profession and I wonder how long can we continue with a basic lack of awareness of either side. I believe that knowledge of the opposite side can surely only enhance the working relationship and make life easier for both sides.

 

I’ll let you know when the article is published. Do feel free to get in touch if you have any strong feelings about this or perhaps have swapped from journalist to PR, or PR to journalist, or pop your thoughts in the comments below.

Poll: Spotify downloads

Wages of Spin – New Direction

Well as some people know, I have left PR in order to cross over to journalism. Now this is certainly not a decision taken lightly and the reasons I have are simple; I enjoy researching, writing and editing copy. More than anything. So why not do more of that? Other reasons include a fascination with the news and the culture of gathering information.

Now the difficulty that lies ahead of me is what to do for employment now I have decided this. As my background is all PR my options are threefold (as far as I can see):

• Do a course in journalism

By this I mean either an MA in journalism or a shorter, intensive course. There are many options here and in the current environment returning to school could seem like the sound choice. There are a wealth of courses on the UKPASS website, which is owned and run by UCAS. This site allows me to narrow down my search to a specific location (mine would be London) and also offers advice on funding.

However is this the most sensible option as I do not wish to be taking out more student loans as I still have my graduate debts hanging over me.  Would this be worth it in the long-run? Possibly, but then also what to do before the course starts as most begin in the Autumn?

• Undertake a series of work placements and build up my contacts until I get some gigs freelancing

 This I have already started to do. I’m currently working with the lovely folk at Know Your Mobile and have been at Silicon.com. I think this is a fantastic way to get some training and crucial experience of how to work with editors and sub-editors, as well as news gathering.

• Apply for everything going

I’m not a fan of the scattergun approach. Although obviously I forsee a lot of job applications and asking for freelance work.

This also raises various questions about this blog, what happens next?

Once one has decided to ’switch sides’ as it were there is always (and I mean always) the matter if the, now somewhat redundant PR themed blog. It’s almost cliché.

I think that it is important for people to have somewhere were they can see how I write, and indeed that I can write. And after writing here (on and sometimes very much off) for years it would be foolish of me to abandon this.

So what to do? Do I keep it? But Wages of Spin is so clearly about PR. Do I set up a new one entirely? Perhaps buy www.alexpullin.com before all the others get there. This deserves some more thought, so let me know what you think and I’ll keep you updated on my progress

Behind the Scenes of a Blog Launch

Like all good launches (albeit the launch of a little known blog on a moderately popular platform on an awkward subject) there are a lot of things going on in the sidelines that people don’t appreciate / know about. I thought I would share them.

Well this launch has been rather tough. Mainly as very little has been done towards it, therefore making it difficult to complete. But there have been other trials to endure such as being struck down by some sort of SARS (although was actually another kind of incureable infection called the common cold).

One of the main hurdles and reasons for apathy and procrastination ont he blog front was the now serious lack of identity suffered by not only my blog, but also to a certain extent myself. Originally this was a blog where I hoped to demystify getting into the PR industry (although I do understand that graduating from a PR degree was a big help). Once in – where was my purpose? What was my cause?

Another thing I realised was that I no longer had much time to blog. I also spent 18 months in a flat with no computer and internet (shocking I know) both created hurdles to writing again.

So why re-start now? What is new?

I certainly don’t have more time, and the overarching theme is something that still grates (it seems totally self-indulgent to make it all about me – one of the reasons I didn’t take off on twitter until recently - but I suppose if it is my ‘viewpoint’ and not ‘me’ would that be better?). I still won’t write about anything at work, nor will I write about anything private (apart from the cold and anyone who is interested to hear more can email me.) Seems a little Lear-esque to stand on the metaphorical e-cliff and shout my laments into the web storm. I’ll just have to see what happens there.

So what changed?

I good place to start would be to say that I missed it. When you write about PR you start to examine it from all aspects, you have to. This not only makes you question your methods and develop your understanding of how things work, but writing about writers and your peers is completely fascinating. Perhaps it is an ego thing, I like the thought that people listen and I like to answer questions.

So yes, this is my return / starting anew, there will be e-balloons and e-cake at a later point at the proper launch, but I wanted to let you know what the thoughts were behind it.

Either that or the recession means I can’t afford to go out anymore so I might as well stay in and blog… whichever explanation you prefer.

Relaunch

Coming soon…

Happy April Fools

Friday Links

No topic is so surrounded by myth as the golden age of the press
Anti-newspaper diatribes bewail falling standards. Simon Jenkins says that’s rubbish, and the glory days they hark back to were dreadful!

Watch your ass
The Daily Mail and ITV battle it out to see who can supply Gloucestershire village Chalford with their first donkey since the 1950s

 The celebrity death-messaging service
Brooker on his latest idea for a world obsessed with celebrity death: eVulture

Malicious programs hit new high

Security software testing organisation AV Test reports that it saw 5.49 million unique samples of malicious software in 2007 – five times more than the 972,606 it saw in 2006

The World’s Leading returns

Glorious news has reached me that The World’s Leading is trying out a new format as a forum for discussions of a gossipy Tech PR nature. The blog, which has been sorely missed in the last few months, now appears in its new guise and apparently under new management. It can be found here.

For those unfamiliar with the original blog, it served (in its own glorious, descriptive words) as:

“A gossip site for those involved with technology PR in the UK”

 Best of luck with the comeback TWL, I look forward to more monkey madness.

Welcome!

Hello and do come into the new blog.

Feel free to have a potter about and check the fittings. I’ll, as ever, be spanglifying as I go and all comments on this process are welcomed!

Spring cleaning the blog

I have been whinging about it long enough. Well, not out loud and not constantly, that would be embarrassing in public places, but OCCASIONALLY I have commented in a dissatisfied manner that I should sort out how this page looks. I’ve also been told by (I’m sure) well meaning people that this looks bad (not the word used).

I throw my hands up in despair. My knowledge of HTML is limited and the templates that Blogger gives me aren’t the best. Does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do to spring clean my blog?

All suggestions welcome.