A request for ‘good freelance writers’ from a web based publication, came through on Response Source this week and it got me thinking. I know that every journalist can point to umpteen examples of badly written press releases and the ‘oh my god, how bad is this’ cry, is sadly still all too common in media outlets across the country. Indeed it’s not just journalists that acknowledge that there is some dreadful material being put out by PRs, but more generally I wondered if journalists consider those PRs that can write to be ‘proper’ writers? Or is there a general feeling that you have to have been through the traditional journalist career route for your writing to be valid? Editors have to have scrutinised your copy and thrown it back in your face. My perception is that there still seems to be a general sniffyness that because you may have spent your time writing marketing related material (rather than independent commentary), that makes the actual quality of the writing somehow not as good. I’m not so sure. Isn’t the quality of the writing about the writer not the content?
Not sure the response source journo would have responded favourably to PRs contacting him and offering their services though.
Hi Katie
The world of copywriting seems to be split into two camps: conceptual copywriting, which is a role within an advertising agency; and commercial copywriting, which is everything else including website copy and press releases.
I’m a former journalist and there’s no doubt that this has increased my kudos. But I’d say it was my time as a sub editor, not as a reporter, that made a difference.
Reporters need only find the angle of the story; if they write the actual article badly, the sub editor can sort it out.
It’s why I’m very wary of bylines and people saying “look what I’ve done”. I want to see the version before it was touched by the news editor, sub editor and editor please!
I also found the Diploma in Plain English I completed was a great help because it filled the gaps in my understanding of the English language that my modern education left.
I trained on-the-job as a journalist and don’t have my NCTJ qualification. I’ve met people who have this qualification who show the sniffyness you’re talking about towards me… even though I’ve worked as a sub editor on three national tabloids.
Press releases produced by PR agencies are great as filler stories and news in brief for trade publications – and I’ve seen well written ones going in with very few tweaks. This job is also done by the sub editor, so many reporters don’t even know this happens.
Sarah
(I discovered your blog through your twitter account, which is on the attendance list of the Media Cafe event next week – which, fingers crossed, I’ll be at!)