Another biz journalist upset with PR spam

Don Mecoy, a business reporter for The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, writes that his e-mail is being inundated with public relations pitches that take him away from his job.

Mecoy wrote, “The ´important announcements´ and ´NEWS´ and ´Embargoed information´ fall just short of being spam. It’s not local, or it’s not important or it’s not interesting; often all three.

“I write this not because I think anyone cares about my problems, but because the practice of mail-bombing reporters is bad business. If you’re paying a public relations professional or firm to represent your business, they must first not damage your company’s existing reputation, however dim it may be.

“I should point out that I’m not referring to local public relations practitioners. If I have a problem with someone from around here, I’ll contact the person directly with my concerns. It’s the random clutter from popculturepr.com and hastingsgroup.com, originating from points unknown, that irks me.

“Some journalists take glee in referring to our PR brethren as flacks. Not me (I save that moniker for the bad ones). I value competence in any profession.”

Read more here. Mecoy´s complaints follow those of Wired editor Chris Anderson earlier this month.