Comments on: Journalists will reward humor in PR http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:15:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kathy Klotz-Guest http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Kathy Klotz-Guest Fri, 28 May 2010 20:55:08 +0000 http://www.newsvetter.com/?p=2661#comment-408 Absolutely right. It's not about the kneeslap - it's about making your audience smile and take note. The kneeslap is great if you can get it, but the bar doesn't have to be so high. When the perceived bar is too high, who wants to take that "risk?" The point is to have a little fun and make your reader take notice because it's the element of surprise. That's how the little things can make a big difference and make you stand out. People fear humor because they don't know how to use it and because they do not define it correctly. Humor isn't comedy per se - it can be a light-hearted and light-handed sense of fun. Now defined that way, it's easier to see its benefits, and diffuse some of the "risk." Folks need to stop freaking out about the funny and concentrate on the unexpected sense of "fun." After all, you can't get to "funny" without having "fun" first! Get it?;-) Absolutely right. It’s not about the kneeslap – it’s about making your audience smile and take note. The kneeslap is great if you can get it, but the bar doesn’t have to be so high. When the perceived bar is too high, who wants to take that “risk?” The point is to have a little fun and make your reader take notice because it’s the element of surprise. That’s how the little things can make a big difference and make you stand out.

People fear humor because they don’t know how to use it and because they do not define it correctly. Humor isn’t comedy per se – it can be a light-hearted and light-handed sense of fun. Now defined that way, it’s easier to see its benefits, and diffuse some of the “risk.” Folks need to stop freaking out about the funny and concentrate on the unexpected sense of “fun.” After all, you can’t get to “funny” without having “fun” first! Get it?;-)

]]> By: Rich Becker http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/comment-page-1/#comment-407 Rich Becker Fri, 28 May 2010 17:42:49 +0000 http://www.newsvetter.com/?p=2661#comment-407 Andrew, The only reason humor should frighten anyone is that it encourages some unfunny people to try it. Most will go over the top. SonicMule did a great job with it, especially because it was unexpected. If everyone did it, we'd be knee deep in unfunny. Your points are perfect though, especially the third point. Be original, which is another way of finding the real news. It's almost never what we think it is. Darn. Now all I can think about is how long it has been since I've had an assignment that called for humor beyond the occasional 140 characters on Twitter. Best, Rich Andrew,

The only reason humor should frighten anyone is that it encourages some unfunny people to try it. Most will go over the top.

SonicMule did a great job with it, especially because it was unexpected. If everyone did it, we’d be knee deep in unfunny.

Your points are perfect though, especially the third point. Be original, which is another way of finding the real news. It’s almost never what we think it is.

Darn. Now all I can think about is how long it has been since I’ve had an assignment that called for humor beyond the occasional 140 characters on Twitter.

Best,
Rich

]]> By: Davina K. Brewer http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Davina K. Brewer Fri, 28 May 2010 15:03:45 +0000 http://www.newsvetter.com/?p=2661#comment-406 This! Smart, simple example of using humor and originality in media relations. That's all it takes: a little effort and creativity, to make your pitch get noticed (provided it's targeted to the right writer of course). Thanks for sharing. This! Smart, simple example of using humor and originality in media relations. That’s all it takes: a little effort and creativity, to make your pitch get noticed (provided it’s targeted to the right writer of course). Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/comment-page-1/#comment-405 Jeff Fri, 28 May 2010 14:55:59 +0000 http://www.newsvetter.com/?p=2661#comment-405 i don't find anything humorous about a CFO who can't sing, or a VP of Engineering who has not progressed beyond twinkle, twinkle on the piano, or a CEO who can't spell (juilliard for God's sake!). it's sad really. singing and dancing are fundamental to human expression. just ask any three-year-old child who has not yet been corrupted by our society. strangely, kids want to sing and dance all of the time, until they 'grow up'. why does our society demand conformance? why the complete repression of any artistic freedom or self-expression? just look at what guys are wearing these days -- it's either blue, grey, or black, maybe a flare of stripes or checkers, or the ultimate in self-expression -- brown shoes! fifty years ago at least they had all of those cool hats. not any more. do you think da Vinci would be ever be caught dead in one of those drab blue suits? if not for folk like t-pain, where would we be? i don’t find anything humorous about a CFO who can’t sing, or a VP of Engineering who has not progressed beyond twinkle, twinkle on the piano, or a CEO who can’t spell (juilliard for God’s sake!). it’s sad really. singing and dancing are fundamental to human expression. just ask any three-year-old child who has not yet been corrupted by our society. strangely, kids want to sing and dance all of the time, until they ‘grow up’. why does our society demand conformance? why the complete repression of any artistic freedom or self-expression? just look at what guys are wearing these days — it’s either blue, grey, or black, maybe a flare of stripes or checkers, or the ultimate in self-expression — brown shoes! fifty years ago at least they had all of those cool hats. not any more. do you think da Vinci would be ever be caught dead in one of those drab blue suits? if not for folk like t-pain, where would we be?

]]> By: Dr. Aaron Perlut http://www.newsvetter.com/2010/05/27/journalists-reward-humor-in-pr/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Dr. Aaron Perlut Fri, 28 May 2010 14:03:58 +0000 http://www.newsvetter.com/?p=2661#comment-404 I'LL CONFUSE YOU FOWLER!!!!!!! I’LL CONFUSE YOU FOWLER!!!!!!!

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