https://roughhousemedia.co.uk

Making the Media Work for You

Making the Media Work for You

020 8332 6200
info@roughhouse.co.uk

  • Our Services
    • Training courses
    • Video production services
    • Crisis communications consultancy
  • Our Team
  • Our Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Bad PR: strong-arm tactics backfire on private US airline

by Graham Fitzgerald, March 13, 2017

JetSmarter logoUsing strong-arm tactics is not the best way to make friends and influence people, especially in the media (are you listening President Trump?). You’ll almost certainly end up with some bad PR.

But according to The Verge technology news website that’s exactly what an American start-up called JetSmarter – “Uber for private jets” – tried to do.

In exchange for a round-trip flight in the US for a Verge reporter, it demanded positive coverage and for the journalist to pay the $2,000 cost if a suitable article was not published “within five business days”.

In a written document, it demanded a “full-feature article on flight and positive experience with JetSmarter, highlighting the concept and services” – or else.

Not surprisingly, the company’s heavy-handed approach achieved anything but the desired effect. Instead of a positive story, it became the subject of a negative one and an object of ridicule across social media. The last thing it wanted.

The media may lack consistency but one thing you can bet on is that they’ll react strongly if they feel unduly pressured or their integrity and independence is being threatened.

How to avoid bad PR

Reporters are no different from anyone else. If you want to get them on your side, it generally pays to be nice and give them something interesting to write about. Don’t try to cajole them as it will almost certainly backfire.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t stand up for yourself when they get something wrong or you feel they’re making unfair accusations. You should.

Just don’t get carried away and make enemies of them unnecessarily as the chances are you’ll crash and burn, like the not so smart JetSmarter.

If you have any examples of bad PR, we’d love to hear from you. And if you’d like any advice about your PR or media strategy, do contact us on 020 8332 6200 or info@roughhouse.co.uk.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

You might also be interested in:

  1. Is your branding good or bad?
  2. Media training: the price of a bad interview
  3. How to speak to journalists
  4. 9 ways to annoy a journalist

Filed Under: All posts, General, Public Relations Tagged With: Bad PR, JetSmarter, PR example, Public Relations

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

"Professional approach and service. Professional journalists and crew - just professional"
Hudson Rose Communications

What are you looking for?

Stay in touch: our newsletter

* = required field

We offer a 15% discount to charities

CharityComms Partner
West London Business Awards Finalist 2020

Menu

  • Our Services
  • Our Team
  • Our Clients
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Rough House Ltd

Oriel House
26 The Quadrant
Richmond
TW9 1DL

020 8332 6200
info@roughhouse.co.uk

Terms of use

Registered Office

2 Dukes Court
Bognor Road
Chichester
PO19 8FX

Registered in England No.03647107

© Rough House Ltd 2020

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Epik on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in