A couple of weeks ago, I made it through a day I had alternately been preparing for, anticipating and dreading for over a year. Last summer Buzz Ball had asked if I could be ready as a “fill-in” speaker if one of the other scheduled speakers had to drop out for the 2007 Missouri Press Association Conference. It was Buzz asking and he had graciously done so much for me the past several years I couldn’t say no.
Well the speaker was able to make it, but Buzz asked if I could plan to speak this year, June 12th. The topic was “The Care and Feeding of your PR Rep.”
I adore newspapers. It’s true; I wait at the edge of the driveway each morning at 4:30 a.m., for that “other” paper. I’m the first to read the Daily each afternoon. To speak to a room full of newspaper editors was scary. But I finally decided to honor the women who taught me about working with newspapers. They were Lois Bush, Anne Cope, and my grandmother Goldie.
When I first moved to Neosho, I was 21 and a complete know-it-all. I’m sure I thought I was going to set whatever PR world on fire. I planned to move here temporarily, stay three to five years, then head back home to Oklahoma and work in Tulsa or the City.
One day Lois, former Neosho Daily News society editor, and I had a disagreement over the phone. I can’t remember what it was about, but I’m certain my youthful arrogance was to blame. Without raising her voice or becoming nasty, Lois let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I needed her a lot more than she needed me. I hung up in a huff, and then it must have been a divine head-bop, because I came to my senses, hopped in my car and drove straight to the Daily office. I don’t remember what was said, except that I apologized profusely and Lois graciously accepted. From that day forward she was exceptional at mentoring me in respecting the paper’s deadlines, responsibilities and countless priorities.
Anne Cope, sister-in-law to Lois, and the Daily’s editor for most of my time at Crowder, was the best at feeding the insatiable appetite of the reader. She never let me settle with a partial story or fail to follow-up on a promised update. My personal victories were when I could successfully and/or quickly provide her with requested information. Anne taught me to always look for the rest of the story and to work as a connector with the story and the reporter, not as a gatekeeper between the paper and the company.
My Grandma Goldie was movie star pretty. She loved jewelry, leopard print, and chocolate! She loved to be out on the world. She was always looking for a community event to attend, a restaurant to try, or a movie to catch. As long as I can remember she read multiple papers a day. Even as she passed her 90th birthday, she kept up with her papers. Every few days she would call to ask if I had read a certain article. Newspapers were her connection to the world. The stories in each issue were her chance to stay involved.
If I could mentor someone just starting out in public relations, I would remind them to respect the newsroom like Lois; search for the details and look for the rest of the story like Anne; and write for my grandmother and all the other Goldies out there. They’re going to love reading about what you and your company are doing.
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