I too have posted on this topic other places. My views may be skewed because I think there broad brush being used that doesn't fit reality. PR is more than sales and perhaps my experiences are different than some because all my work has been done on issue advocacy, not products. That said, I have excellent relationships with reporters both on national publications and trade publications. When I was recently downsized by reorganization I had reporters send me job sites and job listings they came across. I can pick up the phone and call reporters from the NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, etc and they would take my call (actually, I wouldn't call some at this hour because it deadline time). Point is, I have never felt reporters were angry with me.

PR and Journalists couldn´t be at more opposite sides of the spectrum. This reminds me of when I was over after 911 an American Lady asking me why people hated Americans. I explained that it was normal and that the Portuguese "hate" the Spanish (and vice versa), French "hate" the British, Scottish "hate" the English etc. There are times when it's better to let go of very angry customers. Agencies claim clients don't know what they are doing (especially when they lose a bid) and clients think Agencies overcharge and are clueless in Social Media.
Conclusion - we are all in the same boat, all suffering from generalizations yet some manage to use that to their advantage.
Preaching the era of conversation and we sometimes forget to talk and listen.
Adding to this, some work this to their advantage, creating sites and networks on easy target topics with a potential to go viral because of its WOM potential.
So what to do? Read and filter out the rubbish - you might just learn something - I did.

I think we've all been down this road before so I won't elaborate...however, I do find it quite interesting that a good chuck of the angry journalists seem to be angry at their own bosses and fellow journalists....so if they are angry at their own profession and they are angry at PR people, could one draw that conclusion that these folks are just plain angry?

So what's the big deal here?

Think Journalists are the only angry people?

Hello ... the whole world is angry these days. Heck, if I get cut off by one more SUV driver talking on a cell phone I'm going to lose it!

Why not start a "People Angry About Almost Everything" blog.

Just had a conversation this morning with a managing editor who asked me where I got my information for his publication because it was innaccurate and he was not the right person or -- publication for that matter.

I told him where and apologized for the mistake, but what was great was that he was more interested in correcting the mistake than tearing me a new one. And we got into a larger discussion about what my client does and I learned how I might help him with a larger trend story.

But I've learned that if someone is ripping you a new one, just say something nice to them. It trips them up every time!

I have discussed this on Twitter, FriendFeed, reporter's blogs and many other places already, and I think this will be my last time because it’s been exhausting. What I have to say though won’t win me friends on either side of the fence, but here goes.

First - to my fellow PR friends: YOU ARE KILLING US - at least our spirit. I have considered leaving Twitter because I can’t take one more kick to the stomach by another reporter/blogger complaining about how much they hate the PR industry – the part that I hate the most though is that so far, most of the time, they are RIGHT about us. It has to stop - the mass emailing, the untargeted pitches, the "cutting-edge, revolutionary" press releases, all of it. We have to change as an industry - all of us together - in order to be taken seriously. One of us pitches Scoble about a toothbrush or calls him by the wrong name and we all look like idiots.

Second - to the reporters/bloggers: We know, WE KNOW. We get it, you are frustrated, but please realize that those in our profession that are reading your blogs and seeing your rants on Twitter are the ones who are actually there trying to make things better - trying to meet you where you are, trying to deliver you something interesting without spamming you. I am begging you to see that and let me go on Twitter without having to flinch daily when I see yet another disparaging comment or link to your blog post calling us names. I should be able to let it roll off my back, but when it comes from so many directions and from people I respect, it becomes very discouraging. I am just asking that you perhaps look at those who are trying hard to make this relationship better and maybe give us a little bit of a break.

Thanks for the forum for my last time addressing this topic, I am looking forward to what everyone else has to say.

Read Angry Journalist #4788 ... talk about a classsic botched attempt at "open" organizational communications by upper management ... it's almost a case study of what NOT to do.

No wonder they're angry!

Even the best PR pro will make a mistake and pitch the wrong person or publication occasionally. It would help if the publication/news source published their own mini-media contact sheet on their own Web site. It's sad to see people acting so unprofessionally on both sides.