Media Matters

One thing this writer had done to me on trips we went on together is "friend poach" the other journalists when my back was turned. The older, seasoned writers, of course, did not listen to her and were perfectly nice to me. The others--younger women and younger men mostly--hung to her like weeds and ignored or shunned me. I have also gotten feedback from editors this rival reporter had tried to go to them to convince them to use her more often and drop me. Lucky for me, most of these editors cut her out. Still, it was a good reason for me to end the association with her. It's a shame women are so awful to one another in this profession. I am very quiet and shy, while the rival is very flashy and trendy, and she did interrupt and upstage me a lot on the FAM trips I got her invited on when we were on good terms. I notice that almost every trip I was turned down for, she was included on. A lot of the publicists who are younger I think lean toward the flashier people even if their image is achieved with smoke and mirrors.

Comments

Julia Coney October 7, 2009 at 4:24pm

Elyse, keep your head up. One thing about life - karma will happen. Just keep that in mind and good luck on the Hotmixology Mag. I can't wait to see it.
Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 9:00am

I know...occupational hazard. It's nice to be in a community that understands, though.
3orsluxrfdh47 October 7, 2009 at 4:31am

Sorry to hear that, Elyse. As others have said, good work will win out in the end. But sometimes "the end" takes a long time to come. :-(
Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 4:26am

I have done that ;) Sadly, the trick is often getting them to return your calls or at least let you know why they suddenly won't work with you.
3orsluxrfdh47 October 7, 2009 at 4:24am

Perhaps one partial solution is to arrange independent trips directly with the tourism bureaus? It's easier to tailor those trips to your interests, too.
Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 4:00am

A lot of the PR girls in L.A. are like that...sadly that was not always the case.

I am moving forward,but I have noticed its been harder getting on to trips. However, the new magazine I am helping start may fix that ;)
Mary Alice Kellogg October 7, 2009 at 3:52am

Remember the bad chicks in high school? The ones you outsmarted because you grew up and they didn't? Same thing. Move forward without fear, and only explain if some PR person has a specific bad thing that you can counter professionally. Continue to thrive professionally and the immature dabblers will find their level ... which is out of the business.
Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 3:51am

Oy..at least I am not imagining things.
Susan McKee October 7, 2009 at 2:04am

A lot of the publicists who are younger I think lean toward the flashier people even if their image is achieved with smoke and mirrors.

Ah, yes! That's so true of what we lovingly call the PR chickees. Fortunately, because their "choices" don't pan out for clients, they're gone sooner rather than later. (Unfortunately, they sometimes turn up at yet another PR agency, and the dance starts again.)
Elyse Jessica Glickman October 7, 2009 at 1:02am

One thing this writer had done to me on trips we went on together is "friend poach" the other journalists when my back was turned. The older, seasoned writers, of course, did not listen to her and were perfectly nice to me. The others--younger women and younger men mostly--hung to her like weeds and ignored or shunned me. I have also gotten feedback from editors this rival reporter had tried to go to them to convince them to use her more often and drop me. Lucky for me, most of these editors cut her out. Still, it was a good reason for me to end the association with her. It's a shame women are so awful to one another in this profession. I am very quiet and shy, while the rival is very flashy and trendy, and she did interrupt and upstage me a lot on the FAM trips I got her invited on when we were on good terms. I notice that almost every trip I was turned down for, she was included on. A lot of the publicists who are younger I think lean toward the flashier people even if their image is achieved with smoke and mirrors.