Skip to Main Content
Boston University
  • Bostonia
  • BU Today
  • The Brink
  • University Publications

    • Bostonia
    • BU Today
    • The Brink
  • School & College Publications

    • The Record
Other Publications
BU Today
  • Sections
News, Opinion, Community

Give good dish

Survey by COM students reveals PR pitfalls

Students in the mass communication, advertising, and public relations program at the College of Communication have some advice for public relations professionals: “be as open as possible with the media,” “be honest,” offer “good dish on their competitors,” and above all, “don’t send crap.”

Last fall, 11 students in a mass communication research class interviewed 22 reporters and editors at Boston newspapers and radio and television stations to gain some insight into the often-contentious relationship between media outlets and public relations agencies. Led by Anne Danehy, a COM lecturer and an executive at local firm Howell Communications, the students asked media professionals about their ideal relationship with local businesses, the kind of information they want, and the biggest mistakes PR people make.

The results, which offer a real-world perspective to students who may be training for a career in public relations, reveal some predictable conflicts between hacks and flacks: reporters said that PR professionals often sent them information that wouldn’t interest the publication’s audience, and weren’t always aware of the need to provide information on deadline. However, most of the people surveyed expressed a desire for better relationships with PR professionals and offered their thoughts on how the groups can establish trust.

“It is a constant, ongoing effort to reach out,” the editor of a business publication said. “It is building a working relationship.”

Responding to the comments, the students’ “Top 10 suggestions for business” advise PR professionals to be honest at all times — because “the media will always have the resources to obtain the truth anyway” — and to make senior-level employees and executives available when needed. In addition, they recommend that businesses create well-crafted story suggestions instead of sales pitches and learn the demographics of targeted publications.

And, most important, “never call at deadline hour.”

“DON’T CALL ON DEADLINE,” a business reporter advised. “Call the newspaper to find out when [it is].”

 

Explore Related Topics:

  • Local
  • Research
  • Students
  • Share this story

Share

Give good dish

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Latest from BU Today

  • Education

    What’s Behind the Rise in Violence Against Teachers?

  • Fine Arts

    How I Made This: Jacob Whitchurch (CFA’26)

  • Things-to-do

    To Do Today: Seaport Sweat

  • Film & TV

    Did You Win Free Tickets to See Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning Tonight?

  • COMMENCEMENT 2025

    Experience BU’s 2025 Commencement from a Terrier Point of View

  • Obituaries

    Remembering Leslie Epstein, Pillar of BU’s Creative Writing Program

  • Voices & Opinion

    POV: This Memorial Day, Remember BU’s Fallen Heroes by Visiting the New Online Honor Wall

  • University News

    23 Charles River Campus Faculty Promoted to Full Professor

  • Commencement 2025

    Photos: A Look Back at BU’s Commencement

  • Theatre

    It’s “Prom Season” at Wheelock Family Theatre

  • Things-to-do

    Six Spots to Check Out This Memorial Day in Boston

  • Campus Life

    Video: Class of 2025: What We’ll Take with Us as We Begin a New Chapter

  • Health & Medicine

    What Does Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis Mean?

  • Watch Now

    BU’s Class of 2025: What Are Your Plans After Graduating?

  • Fitness

    BU Sports Rehab Therapists on Jayson Tatum’s Achilles Injury and Recovery Ahead

  • Commencement 2025

    Sights and Sounds from Boston University’s Class of 2025 Commencement

  • Commencement 2025

    Video: 2025 Graduate Jayde Best: “I Ended Up Exactly Where I Wanted to Be”

  • Commencement 2025

    “Empathy Is Essential,” BU Commencement Speaker Emily Deschanel Tells 2025 Graduates

  • Voices & Opinion

    I’m a Business Professor Who Asked Dozens of Former Students How They Define Success

  • Commencement 2025

    Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Convocations a Joyous Affair

Section navigation

  • Sections
  • Must Reads
  • Videos
  • Series
  • Close-ups
  • Archives
  • About + Contact
Get Our Email

Explore Our Publications

Bostonia

Boston University’s Alumni Magazine

BU Today

News, Opinion, Community

The Brink

Pioneering Research from Boston University

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Weibo
  • TikTok
© Boston University. All rights reserved. www.bu.edu
© 2025 Trustees of Boston UniversityPrivacy StatementAccessibility
Boston University
Notice of Non-Discrimination: Boston University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex or gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, military service, marital, parental, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in any and all educational programs or activities operated by Boston University. Retaliation is also prohibited. Please refer questions or concerns about Title IX, discrimination based on any other status protected by law or BU policy, or retaliation to Boston University’s Executive Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator, at titleix@bu.edu or (617) 358-1796. Read Boston University’s full Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Search
Boston University Masterplate
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Give good dish
0
share this