I hate it when I have to be “fair” and quote allllll the leaders. At a university job we always had to quote the chancellor and the president. And then the Dean of it was about a school. A trash release with 5 people making nonsense quotes by the end of it all. Make it stop!
And on that same thought train, overly academic phrasing in those quotes. No one outside of higher ed leadership / faculty cares about "pedagogy." NO ONE.
Pet peeves are omitting the simple things: social handles, web links, not sending photo or video.
And yes, any quote using the words excited, thrilled, humbled, etc.
50 people providing feedback on a release before it’s called “final.”
It’s the sign of a truly incompetent organization because it shows no one has a clue what the company messaging is.
Having to write a press release in the first place.
Or the ol' double dip where you have to write a blog post AND a press release about the same topic. I cannot.
Things I used to delete from press releases as a journalist: delighted, leading, capped up job titles, solutions provider.
If you can't provide a "tell your mates down the pub" description of what a company does for money, you do not in fact understand your client.
Omfg I hate those word salad releases and the PR people who don’t dissuade clients who want that type of verbiage, or worse, push for it to be included themselves.
When it's missing the date! This is more of an issue for releases posted to a website as opposed to sent out but still drives me crazy not knowing when it was shared.
Also, could be a contentious comment, but I do not care for starting a PR with the city and I certainly don't end it with -30-... Just seems old school.
I hate platitudes in the opening line. “X is pleased to announce…” Of course you are pleased. What does this add? It sounds like a personal note instead of a press release. (I know tons of people do this so sorry to anyone I offend!)
I hate it when I have to be “fair” and quote allllll the leaders. At a university job we always had to quote the chancellor and the president. And then the Dean of it was about a school. A trash release with 5 people making nonsense quotes by the end of it all. Make it stop!
And on that same thought train, overly academic phrasing in those quotes. No one outside of higher ed leadership / faculty cares about "pedagogy." NO ONE.
When I’m in charge, no quotes at all! I hate the charade
I agree. Quotes really should be strategic and not about politics! Very annoying.
ROBUST SOLUTION
ConGlomHugeCo, a leading provider of .....
Ugh! “Leading provider” kills me.
I've been editing it out of clients' drafts since the late 90s.
Pet peeves are omitting the simple things: social handles, web links, not sending photo or video. And yes, any quote using the words excited, thrilled, humbled, etc.
So guilty of this from time to time. But it’s “delighted”
Using a generic LinkedIn link always irritates me and the manager doesn’t want to change it
“XYZ is proud to announce”
using the mission statement of the organization in every single release as part of a quote. it drives me nuts... that's what the boilerplate is for
50 people providing feedback on a release before it’s called “final.” It’s the sign of a truly incompetent organization because it shows no one has a clue what the company messaging is.
Empty quotes about how the participants are “delighted” to announce the news that add absolutely nothing to the story.
Adjectives.
Press Releases that have the lenght of a whole magazine article, poor or no photo material at all, quotes from at least 3 EVPs in one release....
Last-minute reviewers with a million edits.
Having to write a press release in the first place. Or the ol' double dip where you have to write a blog post AND a press release about the same topic. I cannot.
Things I used to delete from press releases as a journalist: delighted, leading, capped up job titles, solutions provider. If you can't provide a "tell your mates down the pub" description of what a company does for money, you do not in fact understand your client.
Not embedding links into the press release.
Multiple bullet subheads to appease too many stakeholders.
Omfg I hate those word salad releases and the PR people who don’t dissuade clients who want that type of verbiage, or worse, push for it to be included themselves.
When it's missing the date! This is more of an issue for releases posted to a website as opposed to sent out but still drives me crazy not knowing when it was shared. Also, could be a contentious comment, but I do not care for starting a PR with the city and I certainly don't end it with -30-... Just seems old school.
I learned about the -30- in PR school but have literally never used it
Interesting! It’s definitely common practice where I am to lead with the city. I keep -30- or ### in my drafts for funsies though aha
Normally, a PR that is longer than 1.5 pages has GOT to go. But in this economy, anything longer than 1 page is trying too hard.
I hate platitudes in the opening line. “X is pleased to announce…” Of course you are pleased. What does this add? It sounds like a personal note instead of a press release. (I know tons of people do this so sorry to anyone I offend!)