Oh, Count the Ways You Can Annoy a Journalist

If you've ever wondered what journalists really think about marketing professionals, check out AngryJournalist.com. According to its mission statement, "AngryJournalist.com is for the underpaid, overworked, frustrated, pissed off and ignored media professionals to publicly and anonymously vent their anger." And, boy, do they vent.

The complaints can be relatively benign—yet they can also be scathing. Angry Journalist #1661 doesn't soft-pedal his or her pet peeve: "Stupid, stupid, stupid public relations practitioners who send me things that clearly demonstrate that they have no clue what I do, that they NEVER read my publication, and they have no clue what their clients do. And then they quietly wonder why they never get into my stories?!" Ouch.

And then there are glimpses into the way a magazine you're pitching might actually run. Says Angry Journalist #1650: "I'm angry because our publisher doesn't read any of the copy in our magazines, but will come charging into our offices the second one of her precious advertisers complains about something, even when they're not included in a story that one of us editors called and called and called them about."

As at any anonymous forum—especially one devoted to airing grievances—you'll have to wade through a fair bit of sniping and snarking. But you're rewarded with remarkable intel on the inner thoughts of the very journalists you want on your side. And that's Marketing Inspiration.

More Inspiration:
Lewis Green: Personal Mean-Spirited Attacks Hurt: Can They Kill?
Ted Mininni: Earth-Wise Packaging Choices?
Valeria Maltoni: How Dog Poop Affects Your Reputation

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