At least they're not colour blind...Did you see Chris Green's little rant yesterday?
He thinks that some people should be banned from using technology. These include people that shout at their mobile phones on the train, colleagues who print their emails to read, his sister who breaks everything she touches and, of course, Text 100:
"In this job, I never cease to be amazed at how badly some people, who have no excuse, use technology.
"For example, I’ve just received a press release from an agency called Text 100, that addressed me as “Dear Green” – thus ensuring that said press release will be deleted without ever being read, let alone turned into a news story.
"Clearly that PR agency could do with sending some of its staff on a basic course on how to do a mail merge properly."
20 comments:
The bloke is a pompous buffoon. In my opinion, he has all the charm of a hungover John Prescott with halitosis and a nail in his foot.
He doesn't get out much. He's half man, half desk.
You notice how he's not insulted that Text 100 think they can send him a mass distributed press release which he'll run as a story. Clearly he's up for that. (Wow, that's cutting edge journalism. I don't imagine John Pilger or Paul Foot re-wrote too many corporate press releases.)
No, what really upsets him is that someone at Text 100 has entered his surname in a database field clearly, I say clearly, intended for his christian name!
Which obviously can have tragic mail merge consequences. Dear of dear. Don't these people read the manual?!
In Chris Green's litle world, there's no greater outrage than people who don't read IT manuals, know how to configure a router or have an opinion on the latest Battlestar Galactica.
It's very lonely in his comfort zone, and when he's wrenched out of it, by some poor overworked flack at Text 100, he's naturally going to feel very defensive.
Missed your valium today Ben?
Don't call him Christopher whatever you do, he'll rip your eyes right out . . .
Are you saying that journalists shouldn't ever use mass distributed press releases? Even the good ones? Because that would put a lot of people out of a job, no?
What about, for example, financial results? Perhaps Pilger was around before these were popular, but Foot certainly wasn't...
Can you feel the love this morning?
'The bloke is a pompous buffoon. In my opinion, he has all the charm of a hungover John Prescott with halitosis and a nail in his foot. He doesn't get out much. He's half man, half desk.'
Was there really any need to be that personal and nasty? All he was saying was that a professionally addressed email is more likely to be read than one addressed to his surname; it's feedback that can be used.
To paraphrase Michael Winner:
"Calm down dear, it's just a blog post!"
'pompous buffoon' - love it.... i'm sure he was a member of the lunch bunch (a collective of IT journalists that show up to an event at the start, have a look around, scoff the food, have another look around, scoff some more food and are eventually asked to leave because a) the event is finished and b) all the food has gone).
Go on, say what you think
what is it excatly he did to you?!
There's a new Battlestar Galactica??
(note to self: must get out less)
That's rather harsh. Chris has strong opinions, but I've always found him fair and friendly as long as you cut the bull**** with him. He knows his stuff and gets annoyed by those who don't. But at the same time, he was always happy to give me a guiding hand in my junior days of PR.
Granted, faux pas by Text, but we've all done it. It is a mistake and there's no need to let the world know - as amusing as it is for those of us not at Text!
Some might say harsh Ben...but I say fair. Couldn't agree more. Far too many flacks happy to complain about hacks. The arrogance just gets worse. And he's obviously not getting much work in if he's got enough time to worry about things like this then write war & peace on the subject. Does anyone feel these guys are increasingly biting the hand that feeds them? True many of us are a pain in the arse, with shit stories, but what of when Green wants to cross the divide to the dark side? Or sell media training? Or pick up a nice freelance gig. We have long memories Green...and Arthur, and...
Anonymous: "Far too many flacks happy to complain about hacks. The arrogance just gets worse."
Err, you know flacks are PRs and hacks are journalists, right?
New Battlestar Galactica *is* bloody great, though.
'i'm sure he was a member of the lunch bunch (a collective of IT journalists that show up to an event at the start, have a look around, scoff the food, have another look around, scoff some more food and are eventually asked to leave because a) the event is finished and b) all the food has gone)'
Nope, Chris isn't one of them, but I know the guys you mean. There's the one who looks like a bald eagle, the guy with the tweed jacket and the stinky guy with the beard. Sometimes they even bring their wives along to press lunches too.
They also like to waste everybody's time by asking inane questions throughout press briefings.
anon said: "Does anyone feel these guys are increasingly biting the hand that feeds them?" "Far too many flacks happy to complain about hacks."
not quite sure whether you're getting your hacks and flacks confused? Either way - totally agree that PRs and journos are both all too happy to slag each other off.
However, if you're saying journalists are paid by the PR industry I think you're misguided. I'm not disputing that our job would be a lot harder without PR's (and the majority do a great job), but it would still be there without PR agencies(well maybe not some of the shitey mags).
But to try and say that PR would still be about without journalists to speak to... well, I think the argument is a bit flawed.
>Nope, Chris isn't one of them, but I know the guys you mean.
The gang of four - if there's food and drink to be had they're there.
One of them won a Samsung balloon ride in a draw and the PR turned the air blue because she knew they'd never get any coverage from it.
Chris knows his stuff on press briefings, abuses the facilities no more than any other hack (and a good deal less than many) and if he chooses to have attitude once in a while that's his business.
>what of when Green wants to cross the divide to the dark side? Or sell media training? Or pick up a nice freelance gig. We have long memories Green...and Arthur, and...
Whichever tosser wrote this needs to grow up. Do you honestly think any journalist worth their salt would be swayed by childish threats of future retribution?
Seems to me that a whole bunch of people on both sides of the flack/hack fence need to get over themselves and pack it in with the chippy sniping. Ooooo I'm glad I got that off my chest and I feel much better now.
Why is 'Green' so upset about being called by his surname anyway?
Before an Amstrad event, he told an assembled "aggrievance" of technology journalists (I believe that's the collective noun) "I know Sugar, and... Sugar.... doesn't... do.... Late!".
Since 'Sugar' didn't turn up for another hour, I'd have to conclude that 'Green' doesn't really know 'Sugar' all that well.
But he does like to refer to complete strangers by their surnames, like one of Harry Enfield's self righteous brothers.
Text 100 know Green far better than Green knows 'Sugar', so I really can't see what 'Green' is getting upset about!
I think 'Green' is getting above himself.
If he wrote a snooty blog about me, I'd say "Oi, Green. I admire your ability to become obsessed with gadgets, to the detriment of all the more important things in life. BUT. If you start throwing tantrums about trivial incidents, You are totally out of order."
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