As an auto writer in the digital world, I have been witness to many PR blunders as PR offices attempt to figure out the dynamic between traditional and new media. Those attempts have often been thwarted by the fact that many of us work in both print and virtual mediums. Fortunately, I have never been directly involved in any of these fiascoes.
As a casual food writer who is a certified foodie with a background in the kitchen, I feel honored to have spent some time with some foodie celebs. Often, I am the only one in the room who understands who the chef is. Case in point, my impromptu photo shoot with Iron Chef Morimoto earlier this year.
Earlier today I came across this post at Accidental Hedonist that made me giggle. It seems the youngsters in the food PR world are going through what the automotive world went through a few years ago as they underestimate the true reach of new media.
A number of bloggers received invites to an underground supper club to be hosted by Food Network chef George Duran and food industry analyst Phil Lempert. The premise was that they were to enjoy an Italian meal and discuss food trends with this analyst guy. Perhaps the best part was that they would be able to invite guests, as in readers!
Of course at some point in each of the first four of five evenings, the shoe dropped as the realization came that they were being served glorified TV dinners. Not surprisingly, the bloggers involved have expressed their discomfort and anger with the situation. One Mommy Blogger (yes, I know you all hate that) was even reduced to tears. Perhaps some introspective therapy might help in that case. As the PR firm began to understand the magnitude of their mistake, the final dinner was cancelled.
When this stuff began in the automotive media vertical, the bloggers involved were often actually pros who caught on pretty quickly. The offending PR firms spun their own recovery and no doubt fired the up and coming intern who caused the problem. I wonder how many of the food/maternal blogger crowd are actually pros and how many are hobbyists who really are that naive.
The interesting thing here is that these giant fubar’s are often attributed to the youthful PR employees. Shouldn’t the young ones have a better grasp of the different types of new media and how much damage they can do when crossed? Perhaps the problem lies in old school teachers or marketing managers.
Maybe they really are that stupid!
Photo of the invite from Mom Confessionals.
