Alert the media
Wait, I am the media. Oh well.
I just have to say that I hate snooty secretaries and receptionists when I'm trying to call and get information for a story I'm working on.
How hard is it to hit the little button that transfers phone calls?
AoM: Good day. This is AoM for *insert publication name here*, I'm trying to reach someone in public relations.
Snottyass receptionist: In what?
AoM: Public relations.
Snottyass receptionist: May I ask what this is about?
AoM: I'm trying to get information for a story I'm working on.
Snottyass receptionist: Regarding what?
AoM: *trying not to reach through phone lines and strangle life out of bitty on the other end* It is about XYZ property that was sold to ABC company.
Snottyass receptionist: Hold please.
Now, really, how hard was that? Did she REALLY need to know what it was about in detail?
Ok, ok, I'm sure someone out there is going to tell me that the secretaries have to screen the calls, blah blah blah. I'm sure they do. But, if you would have heard the tone of this old bitty's voice, you'd know what I mean.
*putting away soapbox and getting back to work*
I just have to say that I hate snooty secretaries and receptionists when I'm trying to call and get information for a story I'm working on.
How hard is it to hit the little button that transfers phone calls?
AoM: Good day. This is AoM for *insert publication name here*, I'm trying to reach someone in public relations.
Snottyass receptionist: In what?
AoM: Public relations.
Snottyass receptionist: May I ask what this is about?
AoM: I'm trying to get information for a story I'm working on.
Snottyass receptionist: Regarding what?
AoM: *trying not to reach through phone lines and strangle life out of bitty on the other end* It is about XYZ property that was sold to ABC company.
Snottyass receptionist: Hold please.
Now, really, how hard was that? Did she REALLY need to know what it was about in detail?
Ok, ok, I'm sure someone out there is going to tell me that the secretaries have to screen the calls, blah blah blah. I'm sure they do. But, if you would have heard the tone of this old bitty's voice, you'd know what I mean.
*putting away soapbox and getting back to work*
4 Comments:
At 1:51 PM, August 14, 2006,
Anonymous said…
For a little more clarification, these are not hatchet job stories. They are almost completely a good thing and something only a fool wouldn't want to get out to the media so there should very little need for vetting the inbound calls.
Funny how hard some people want to make her work so she can in essence give them free publicity.
At 6:25 PM, August 14, 2006,
Anonymous said…
It's nothing more than secretaries being nosy. In my experience a lot of the secretaries I've encountered have been the biggest gossips in the office. They want to know who is talking to who about what at all times. If they could listen in on calls I'm sure they would.
BT
At 9:42 PM, August 14, 2006,
Anonymous said…
As the office manager for an architectural firm, I won't put a call through to anyone in the office unless I know who they are. I don't care what they want, if I don't know them they need to explain to me what they want, or they will never get through. Our billable time in precious and a few hours loss each month adds up on the bottom line.
I do however appreciate media and especially free media, and other people in my office do too. We will take calls from media, and occasionally surveyors.
I for one don't care about office gossip and would never listen in on a conversation, the worst gossips in my office are the men, not this nosey "secretary".
At 6:45 AM, August 15, 2006,
Army of Mom said…
See, I can appreciate that when calling for an executive. I totally understand that. But, I don't understand for the public relations person. They don't bill by the hour. Plus, I don't think that brokers do either. I think I ticked her off because she didn't get her arms around what I was asking for when I said "public relations" even though on their website, they refer to them as public relations. *shrug* It is just tiresome to have to go through all of it - especially when I'm on a deadline - when it was a simple request.
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