Shouldn’t Publicists Know Better?
August 29, 2007
At Work at Home Moms Talk Radio we have provided a detailed Guest Media Sheet that gives anyone interested in an appearance the chance to pitch their idea and be considered. We did this because frankly we received a lot of guest requests from people who weren’t at all suited for our show. Work at Home Moms Talk Radio is about Working at Home - not parenting or cooking or sewing or reading or anything else.
Since the introduction of the media sheet we continue to get a fair number of requests that are unsuitable for our show.   Either they’re not reading the media sheet or they’re not understanding it.
Our instructions are simple. First the media sheet instructs you to make sure that your pitch is work at home related. Then we ask for a topic idea, suggested questions, their business info, phone number and headshot photo. Â
This past week we received a complex bio/one sheet/question list/topic choices media kit from a publicist. It was great, but after reviewing the info it was clear the guest she was pitching was not work at home related.
My VA replied to her to please review the media sheet to learn more about what we’re open to so she could pitch future guests who would be a better fit.
She emailed us back right away saying that she HAD read our media sheet but wanted to go ahead and pitch the guest anyways because ‘It doesn’t hurt to ask’
But it does! It does hurt to ask us to consider a guest that clearly isn’t suitable for our program!Â
- She wasted my VA’s time (which I pay for)
- She wasted her time (which I assume someone is paying for)
- She annoyed me by disrespecting my wishes and ignoring the very instructions that I took a lot of time to put together to make her and other people’s job easier.
I’m sure that she saved some time by blanketing the radio world with her pitch without care or concern for whether her emails were targetted or not.
Don’t make her mistake. Do take the time to pitch targetted topics for appropriate programs. You’ll get more interviews and have a high chance of being invited back.
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She also kept you from referring her to the many more suitable podcasts owners you are cozy with!
Very true.
Another winner today… pitched me a wine and food book author!
My response:
“I have to ask you… why do publicists pitch guests that don’t fit the topic and purpose of a show?
I don’t mean to be rude and I realize that this is pretty ‘in your face’ but I’ve gone to great extents to provide good info about the guests that we’re looking for on our website and when I get a pitch like this from a professional I feel disrespected as a broadcaster.
I say this not because I want to burn you and never have you contact our show or radio network again - but instead because I hope you’ll never do this to me or any other podcaster.
We want to receive guest suggestions - but pitching something that doesn’t stay on topic is just annoying.”
Kelly McCausey
Good reply Kelly.
I wouldn’t even reply to them Kelly. I would just add a big note to the site saying “Important: etc, etc,”
If they still send you these requests I would hit delete… you’ve made it very clear so I don’t feel there’s a need to respond.
And yes, it definitely does hurt to pitch something when you know you’re not following the guidelines… it’s rude and basically saying it’s okay not to follow someone’s rules on their website (which is like doing whatever you want in someone’s house… well at least to me anywyas!)
I guess they’re really not paying attention, or they just are hoping YOU won’t pay attention. Some people just don’t get it, and it’s very unprofessional of them to disregard your clearly written explanation of guests that can and should “apply.” I don’t know that I’d reply to them, but I might just to tell them to get a life.
She replied and apologized. She said she could see my point and understand my annoyance. Like the other gal, she said she knew it wasn’t really a fit but felt it was worth a pitch…. so do publicists get this idea about pitching unreleated guests in training school or something?
I think it’s just a really terrible mentality that has almost become instinct for everyone. I honestly think somewhere down the line that part of that nasty little phrase was lost. It should have been, “It doesn’t hurt (ME) to ask”.
That’s acceptable and fine if you are a child. Everyone else should grow up and their age. =)
By the way, did that happen to be the same person you referred to me for a possible future show? LOL