Dogs Days of Summer PR

With temperatures well in the 90s, the Dog Days of Summer are here. It’s a time to reflect on the work of fevered PR brains that transpires once the summer solstice passes. And maybe indulge in a little schadenfreude. Herewith, a few of my favorite Summer PR gaffes.

1. Story Lead Buried on Page 3 of Press Release.  Took awhile but I finally found the real news about a “breakthrough” product after wading through 2 pages of marketing fluff at the top of the release. Why the company hid the news nugget: “Because Marketing isn’t convinced the product will ever be released,” was the answer.
2. Female Research — Just Too Sensitive.  A company commissioned a study of womens’  buying habits, then decided not to promote the data because it singled out women.
3. Such a Hot Story it’s Worth Doing Twice.  A company approached a partner proposing an announcement on their relationship. The partner pointed out that the deal was announced the previous summer.
4. Fighting Coverage of an Announcement. When a release has an error, it’s not uncommon to follow it with a correction.  How about when a company puts out a release, then call reporters & asks them not to write about it?  I forget why, but don’t laugh, it gets worse.  Read on.
5. But Officer, that’s my property in the mailbox! Back before email when releases were still overnighted, a PR director found to her horror that she’d shipped out an announcement one week too early. Was reported seen trying to pry open a Fedex box with a nail file.  Fedex bailed her out — over the weekend, no less — and returned all the envelopes. Yes sirree, they deliver for the customer even when it absolutely, positively can’t get there tomorrow.

Time for a cold one.

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