I would point out something that occurs to me when I read your examples. As hard as it is we are human beings with options. We don’t have to suck up. We don’t have to succumb. We don’t have to sell our souls. All, unfortunately, that is required is personal strength of character. I’m not perfect by any means. But I have always the willingness to draw the line. Again, I’m not perfect about it. But enough times I draw the line to know very well how good at it I am. We all make that choice for ourselves.

Were I to be a reporter I would be one exactly in the same fashion as I am a programmer analyst in terms of attitude. I own my job, and the fact is that I do a good job, work hard, and fly right. I work on behalf of my employer with all due diligence. However – I came aboard with the calm explanation that I have boundaries. When they hired me they thought they would break them down. They thought so, but they were wrong because I stuck to my guns, and always have from day 1. Not a bad practice. They tried and failed to whittle me down. Which is what I would do as a Reporter as well, were I to become one.

The point is that we make our own decisions for ourselves and we are ultimately responsible for them. Not Society. Not our boss. Not anyone else. Just us. I try to keep it in mind on a daily basis and it’s helped me to fight the good fight. We all can do this, if we so choose. Or we can excuse ourselves on the usual grounds. The choice is ours to make.

As to the great and superior papers: New York Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, well they are justifiably the most important reads of U.S.

Why? Most reprinted in other newspapers, most read by power centers in Washington, N.Y. and other parts of the country.

Besides their accumulated Pulitzer and other journalism honors, I believe them all to be successful business enterprises which have been very good to their stockholders.

That’s what I call superior.

Only I am not sorry.

I have too been on both sides of the fence. I now feel like I can describe it.

It’s a long fence, stretching to the horizon. It’s a tall one, too — much too high to consider climbing or vaulting.

What makes this wall special is the commerce that develops. Those on one side have important information and access to important newsmakers. Those on the other side have the keys to the kingdom, and can control who gets to come through the gate.

It’s a symbiotic relationship. The PR guys know where to drill for the water, and the media guys have a monopoly on the buckets and the road to town. Sure, the media guys can search for water on their own, but they risk getting beat by a competitor who is willing to work with the “PR dowser.”

That’s why I don’t get the emnity between the sides. They do need each other — and they work best without the attitude of superiority.

Newsies need some self-examination, and need to admit that much of their story selection and editorial decision is nothing more than self-promotion.

PR guys need to quit asking for permission at the gate, and using technology to take the water straight to the people.

(Scott — once again, I have developed the germ of a post from the content of a comment. Thanks…)

Both sides know exactly what the other must do in his or her job.

Both sides need not lump the other into li’l holes, i.e. “All reporters are _______” and “all PR practitioners are _______.”

Both sides need not fake it. Just acknowledge what your job is and what you’re trying to accomplish, establish a relationship with each other, and move on.

The Ol’ Man cringes every time he sees a PR person, and his/her li’l glossy suit, completely oblivious to what the reporter is looking for and too programmed into saying, “Yes, but what we all need to remember is…”

On the flipside, he cringes, too, whenever former colleagues or hot-headed reporters call out the PR person and say, “But you’re just a
flak.”

It really does come down to day-to-day relationships. In the year 2005, both sides need each other. It comes down to respect and honesty.

These relationships, when done right, certainly work to both sides’ advantage.

Or they’re just awful and the cycle of cynicism will continue.

Great post, either way.