you'll get a range of personal opinions being expressed on such a thread.

Yes, I'm aware of the concept. Hence putting forward my opinion.

If anything, I think the original poster is probably just a little naive.

A naive PR person is a contradiction in terms, Joolz. PR is all about exploiting the naivety of others, so that they believe that a deluge of media stories about (say) a celebrity, just before that celebrity releases their latest piece of work, is just pure coincidence of timing. I've been to business networking events where PR people have pitched their services to others, so I know how the industry works.

Alex

Oh come on. She’s not some evil shark working for the big commercial industries. Most PR firms are small scale, independent companies. Their intent is not malicious, just opportunistic. They are often positive and self-motivated people, trying to think of creative new ways to work in their industry. Clearly she made a mistake by posting this request here, get over it.

Anyone who 'oppotunistically' posts such a request on a community website is going to get a range of responses from polite, to snarked, to down right rude from the registered members. This is not the first, nor will it be the last, company to do so - it seems to be the way business works these days. It's tiresome and I think companies should get the message that it's not good business practice.

<Added>

although, I should say that 'down right rude' posts are liable to be deleted by admin.

Unfortunately, a lot of sales people are driven by targets and have salaries based either on exceeding those targets or on commission. That tends to result in many such people being pushy, and it's why cold calls are often so difficult to fend off. Unless you say a flat 'no', in almost as rude a manner as the sales person, they will hear it as 'not right now but I might be persuaded'.

Example from personal experience: In my last house, I was ex-directory. Despite this, a national double-glazing company managed to find my number and attempted on a number of occasions to cold-call me. The fact that I said 'no' quite firmly did not dissuade them, and I was forced to resort to 'Which part of the word "no" do you not understand?' Then I badgered them about how they had managed to get hold of an ex-directory phone number. It turned out that this company had some kind of system which dials numbers at random until it finds one that rings, thus bypassing the ex-directory system. This is the kind of underhanded approach that sales people are sometimes driven to, by companies who place volume of business ahead of their reputation.

Alex

You have my sympathies, Alex. We used to get phoned up regularly on a Sunday morning by one national double glazing company, and they got exceptionally short shrift from us.

We had people cold-calling at our last house barely a year after we moved in, trying to sell us double-glazing. The fact that the house was brand new when we moved in, and therefore had a full compliment of new windows, didn't do anything to dissuade the salesmen.

Here's a thought: If a double-glazing salesman calls round at the house of a Jehovah's Witness, who d'you reckon would be most likely to give up first?


Alex

If a double-glazing salesman calls round at the house of a Jehovah's Witness, who d'you reckon would be most likely to give up first?

Ooh, there's a story in that...

Ooh, there's a story in that...

'Not-so-silent Witness'

For me, a holiday in exchange for writing would be acceptable. It's refreshing that a company is upfront about not being able to pay cash. I once wrote reviews for a website for a whole year on the understanding that we (there were five of us) would be paid when the advertising took off. Never happened. I did get into plays and films for free, with snacks and drinks for self and partner. Is this the same sort of deal?

Sheila

Actually, you are right Cornelia, about the up-front part. The original poster at least made that clear, and I should have given her credit for that.

I doubt if you are right regarding a holiday!

The first article I had accepted was for a glossy local magazine, and I supplied photographs too, fully expecting to get a cheque for some unknown amount. I waited in vain. It turned out that I should have asked for and agreed a price before allowing publication. Hence my concern that this was posted in the newcomers group and dare I say I am probably not the only one to start off pretty niave about the writing game.

Sorry to hear about the review work, what a pain.

It is possible to make a small - mine is very small - regular income from articles and reviews. Far easier than for fiction. Just build up a reputation with a publication or two or local paper. It is time consuming for the remuneration, but for the new writers out there, there's no need to submit work of this nature to non-paying organisations unless there are other reasons to support them eg charities, friends.

Issy, thanks for these words and congratulations on making a modest income. I learned how hard it is to become a freelance when I did two journalism courses. I decided the pay was so poor you need a day job, a pension, or parents who'd support you.Last week I offered to write a series of pieces for of those county magazines, including links to published work. I was told my ideas were good but the budget was tricky just now and would I consider joining their blogging team (for free)!Another time I wrote a short piece for a library mag travel feature and received a free pocket guide.I've just finished a piece based on a working in a a remote part of Spain,the style based model in the magazine. It's taken ages to write and I'm not about to to let it go for free.I take your point about local mags, most of whom seem to have their own teams. All kinds of factors go into the equation- right market, right specialism, and of course writing skills.It seems to be a case of 'think internship and don't expect to be paid'. On the bright side, UK holidays are making a comeback and there seem to be more opportunities about.Plus I have my pension