Comments on: Ask the White Guy on Bad PR Pitches: Stereotyping Black & Latino Shopping

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:03:16 +0000

It is important to understand that racist attitudes did not begin with legislation, but the core has always been in the hearts of those that set themselves as priviledged. This is a human social trait that will never go away. This goes beyond blacks, whites and “Hispanics” in America. It is good to keep this issue at forefront so that we can better all of our societies.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:48:47 +0000

The EEO/Civil Rights profession is my primary passion. My secondary passion is education. The PR pitch and the associated postings reinforce for me that I and others in my field may well remain gainfully employed for MANY YEARS TO COME.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:55:59 +0000

I’ve taken the time to read through all these posts and I now find it appropriate to say that we still do not understand each other. Ignorance still prevails on so many levels. And, that ignorance will hold so many many people back. WHITE, BLACK, BROWN, YELLOW, ANGLO, AFRICAN, HISPANIC, MEXICAN, and, any other name that you can come up with to describe a person. We are all the beautiful people we were created as.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:00:28 +0000

I too agree that this was a very poor pitch — but for a moment, let’s look at this pitch form another direction. We all may assume that it’s a PR Representative that wrote this, but I know that in MANY cases these days, the MARKETING DIRECTOR who SUPERVISES (or hires an Agency) this person is standing over the PR Representative ( or Agency) not allowing them to pitch PR but pitch company SALES. This bad pitch seems like a very good example of that. It’s a bad market and PR people are the first to go, as many do not understand our value. Which is why almost any one who claims they “know PR” is being hired for PR. And those that know it, are being fired left and right because they do not fit into the sales mode.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:09:59 +0000

So many companies send out press releases (or in this case) a PR pitch to media outlets and expect the releases to be echoed verbetum. I have seen newspaper articles that are just that. Woe to the poor PR person who thinks that he/she can send a story to Diversity Inc and get it run without being vetted. LOL
More publications should read their mail more critically as Luke did in this case.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:49:40 +0000

This is the end of 2009 and we in America still have race issues. Enjoy life people, move beyond race!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:44:47 +0000

To the “Guest”poster who feels sorry for the poor, pitiful PR person (there’s that alliteration thing again) who sent this pitch…sorry, no sale. If as you say the AE/SAE was given a lame pitch and told to make it work, then figure out a way to make it work or find an alternative way to get into the targeted publication. It’s called “strategic thinking,” and as I stated in my earlier post, it is clearly too difficult for this PR person to navigate and not important enough for their agency to demand. I guess if supervision is lax, teaching and mentoring are out of the question. After all, there are billable hours to consider.

Also, before you pitch a story that is so subject specific, do a little research about the publication/media outlet your pitching. In the case of Diversity, the “mystery” company’s health care policy for Gay partners immediately removed them from consideration for a positive piece in this publication. While I might not agree with the editorial policy, all publications /media outlets have their own editorial policies and restrictions whether we like them or not. Learn them and tailor your pitch accordingly or not at all.

Finally, in the interest of giving a stranger the benefit of the doubt, I will concede that there was no malice intended…but the ignorance, laziness and lack of oversight on the part of all concerned is a sad commentary on their agency and sadder still, for my industry because it is not uncommon.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:27:05 +0000

Am I the only one here who actually feels sorry for the person who wrote this pitch? Not in a “Oh my, do they know what a terrible PR person they are” kinda way, but in the “we have all been there whether you want to admit it or not” kinda way. As an AE/SAE you are told to PITCH make the angle work, get the placement. Do you really think that this person thought they had a brilliant correlation that made sense 100%? I doubt it. As for being racist, they’re stating facts as found in a study and trying to get your publication interested. Stop being so sinister. There was no malice intended.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:42:25 +0000

This is clearly a poor pitch. As stated by others here, there is zero corelation between the data and the service. However, it is just as clear that the author of this article had his own agenda and equally stretched to draw a link to stereotyping and racial insensitivity. While these issues certainly do exist, they’re just not evident in the pitch letter. Regarding holiday gifts, they sell a hell of a lot more sweaters thans books. Besides, the letter did say “and other gifts.” I found this particular stretch to be every bit inane as the premise of the pitch itself.

The verdict: Junior PR doobs guilty a hack pitch. Reporter guilty using it as a springboard for his own feelings and glorification.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:58:57 +0000

It is obvious this pitch was disconnected, but it made you nauseous? Give me a break. Your suggestion that it is racially stereotyping is equally disconnected.