Ages ago, I ran PR for a Salvation Army district. We had the news director of one of the local TV stations on our advisory board. I participated in a seminar for NPO PR types where this individual was very much intimating “if it bleeds, it leads.” I said to him, “That’s tantamount to saying ‘Bad news is news.’ How are we supposed to compete with that?” His reply?“Our job is to tell people when the American Dream breaks down. Your job is to repair where the American Dream breaks down. Why should you get publicity just for doing your job?” I went back to my bosses, reported this exchange, and asked, “Why is this man on our advisory board!?”
Ages ago, I ran PR for a Salvation Army district. We had the news director of one of the local TV stations on our advisory board. I participated in a seminar for NPO PR types where this individual was very much intimating “if it bleeds, it leads.” I said to him, “That’s tantamount to saying ‘Bad news is news.’ How are we supposed to compete with that?” His reply?“Our job is to tell people when the American Dream breaks down. Your job is to repair where the American Dream breaks down. Why should you get publicity just for doing your job?” I went back to my bosses, reported this exchange, and asked, “Why is this man on our advisory board!?”