Publicists: Do You Know What's NOT Very Demure, Very Cutsie or Very Mindful?
Spoiler: Let's talk about conflating journalists and influencers on press trip invites
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
I am SO looking forward to seeing everyone next week at the Holiday Gift Guide AMA I’m co-hosting with Aly Walansky and Alice Dubin … if you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? We’re sharing 2024 info you NEED to know before you start pitching (and yes, it’s already time to start pitching!) for the season. We’ve already received so many great questions, and we still have room to take yours!
Today, I wanted to discuss an issue I’m noticing creeping into press trip invites as of late: influencer language!
The most recent example to land in my inbox started off promising with:
Hi Jill,
I’m excited to extend an exclusive invitation to you for an unforgettable four/five-night culinary extravaganza centered around the highly anticipated [event], taking place from [dates]. This week-long celebration offers a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant culinary scene of [destination] while highlighting its rich agricultural heritage and the creative prowess of local chefs.
Great, so far so good. My mouth is already watering and I’m free these dates …. feels very cutsie, very mindful, very demure.
After some more specifics about activities and what to expect if you join the trip, and what they’ll cover (hotel, flights, meals, activities, etc.), the invite ended with words that as a trained journalist who attends 15-20 press trips a year (and have been doing so for over a decade), I truly never thought I’d see. And I’m going to explain why this language so problematic and how to avoid it so that more journalists will say YES to your invites instead of deleting them (like I automatically did with this one):
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