stedavies.com - communications consultant

The names have been changed to protect the innocent. (And the guilty!)

It went something like this:

Reception: “Hi Stephen, there’s a journalist from the Journal called Nikki on line 2 asking for John.”

Me: “OK, John isn’t in at the moment, so I’ll take the call. Thank you.”

Me: “Hi Nikki, John isn’t in the office at the moment, can I help with anything?”

(Long pause)

Nikki the journalist: “Erm…do I know you?”

Me: “I don’t think so, can I take a message to pass on to John?”

Nikki the journalist: “Well if I don’t know you, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me by my first name.”

Me: “Erm..OK. What would you like me to call you?”

Nikki the journalist: “Mrs Smith.”

Me: “Ok Mrs Smith, can I take a message to pass on to John?”

Nikki the journalist: “No.”

(Slams down phone and I’m left with “beep, beep, beep” in my ear.)

Right, I know sometimes there’s a little conflict and perhaps rivalry between journalists and PR people, but to be blatantly rude and obnoxious is something else. As a professional, what does she stand to gain by being socially incontinent? In future, if I have a good story, would she be the first on my press release distribution list? Me thinks not.

From my minimal experience, I’m beginning to think that some journalists just can get to grips with the idea of shared back scratching.