Thursday, August 5, 2010

The office misses me

And so I was really sick the entire week. My nose ran, while my throat continuously failed me. The past weekend was not necessarily productive academically, although I’m quite sure the socials gods favored my happenings. I still went to the office.

I was the only intern that day! Did I just forget Mondays are the busiest? The newspapers are a gazillion thick. I am in awe.

We had to do the media rounds again. It was my second time and I can say I that I am now more familiar with the protocols of the trade…

One, don’t let the messenger do it. It may be as simple as handing out the press kits that we prepared, but our mere presence can go a longer mile. It demonstrates how we value media relations that we don’t leave them to any Mercury.

Second, the small details make the difference. Try to personalize everything – let everyone in the office sign a thank you note, know their birthdays. I know it makes us feel special.

Third, know when and when not to go. Leaving the office at past four, Ms. Christne explains to me that at about three o’clock, the editors try to beat their deadlines for the next day’s running. Basically, we missed meeting most of our targets. Next time P-Noy should schedule his SONA in the morning.

Furthermore, it is a no-no to give goodies together with the distribution of the PR material, do it after. You don’t want it to be misinterpreted as a bribe. It should be a gift of utang na loob in a sense.

We went to the same publications in the Manila Port Area as last time and Business World in New Manila, minus Business Mirror and Journal, both of which are in Makati.

Without her even directly saying it, my supervisor, Ma’am Christine (a CMC Journ graduate) typified the good use of charm. The taxi driver almost went nuts upon hearing our itinerary, but with some enchantment, e.g. the one we use for prerog, bad vibes go away. You see, UP trains us for life.

In other news, aside from going to publications, I also did client-hopping for the past week. One in The Fort (which I rarely see in daylight), another in Makati and the other, in West Avenue. I have had my fair share of misadventures which I can laugh at all day.

Probably the office misses me.

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