I said no.
The publicist, looking perplexed and a bit taken aback, said "You don't want an exclusive?"
I said "You know, truthfully, I can find exclusives on my own."
" I will actually settle for if I can just get regular updates and information, and things like teasers and short episode synopses for upcoming episodes because currently you're not even sending that out. You're not sending anything to the media."
" I will actually settle for if I can just get regular updates and information, and things like teasers and short episode synopses for upcoming episodes because currently you're not even sending that out. You're not sending anything to the media."
Wrongly or rightly, it seems as if PR companies and publicists are obsessed and focused on placing all kinds of fawning, credibility-lacking "partner content" type articles, and have forgotten, don't care, or never cared, about the bare-level basics.
Like ordinary programmatic information about TV shows.
Yes, the nice and juicy tenderloin steak is nice, but hyenas (the bulk press) need to feed daily. What are they supposed to do on the non-exclusive days of which there are many; many, many more?
It's irritating that a lot of PR people in television in South Africa want to sell "exclusives" but can't be bothered to consistently communicate daily changes, programming updates, schedules, episode information, issue high res images appropriately and without asking, at the right times.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs holds true for TV as well but a lot of publicist wants to ignore that.
Sadly a lot of publicist wants to appease/satisfy/answer to the top of the pyramid, having neglected the bare-level basic wide base of the pyramid.
I can't (okay I can but it doesn't really serve a purpose) run an exclusive if there's barely anything else backing it up in-between.
PRs will also often subvert basic info like for instance the contestants' details and images for a reality show for instance and give that "exclusively" to a certain publication; too stupid to realise that that is basic show information that should be for all press.
A profile story or "exclusive" reveal about one of those contestants - something that actually requires work from both the PR and press - is what is, and should, be a specific exclusive.
It doesn't happen in America, but it does in South Africa, and it's these types of things that makes me shake and rattle in a cage like a Pokemon after a big can of Play.
So thanks. Thanks for the exclusive offer. It's kind of thinking of me - whether its real, or a "throwaway" small talk comment just to try and make conversation.
But lets maybe start in making sure all the media covering television gets all of the basic day-to-day and week-to-week stock-and-trade TV show and publicity information.
