Journalists and sales: don't sell your soul

Over the past several years, I have written a number of blog posts about how journalists can get involved in sales and marketing without violating their ethical standards or damaging the credibility of their publication. Here are a few of them.

1. Journalists selling ads: think of it as a fair exchange
When I was going through the transition from editor of a business publication to the role of publisher, I dreaded sales calls with clients.
"It meant I had to ask clients for money, which was a new and uncomfortable experience. The hilarious irony of this is that, as a reporter and editor, it was my job to ask people much tougher, more-intrusive questions, and I did it with no problem -- grieving parents about the death of their child, a political candidate about his sexual escapades, a business executive about her salary.
How tough could it be for a former reporter to ask an advertiser for money?
Read more �

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Investor sees 'great returns' from new digital media

Image
Vucinic, photo by Ted.com Many media investors see disaster everywhere they look, as traditional media lose audience, revenues, and relevance. Sasa Vucinic, co-founder and co-managing director of North Base Media , sees great investment opportunities, especially in developing markets, such as Central Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. "We invest in serious digital-only media oriented toward the younger audience that can disrupt their markets. And we think it�s a phenomenal business that will bring great financial returns." Vucinic, who began his journalism career in Serbia, has been a crusader for media organizations that tell the truth about corrupt, oppressive regimes. I reached him via Skype in South Korea, where he was looking at investment opportunities. I wanted to ask him about social purpose investing , where investors direct their money toward organizations that not only give a financial return but also have a positive impact on society. Versi�n en
Read more

US: Atiku Abubakar In $40 Million Money-Laundering Accusation With Wife, Jennifer

A United States Senate report has accused Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice-President, of laundering over $40 million in suspicious funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008. And his partner in the lucrative effort was Jennifer Douglas, his fourth wife.  Ms. Douglas is sometimes known as Lady Jamilah Jennifer, or Douglas E, or Jennifer Iwenjora, the name by which she was known in the 1980s when she was a reporter with the Nigeria Television Authority in Lagos.  According to the report, which was written by the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, most of the funds were through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts. Of the $40 million identified in the US investigation, $25 million was reportedly wire-transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Ms. Douglas, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd. “In a 2008 civil complaint, the U.S. Secu
Read more