23 April 2009
The intention to lure media with gifts to attend functions and press conferences is becoming more blatant as PR agencies and event hosts are now mentioning the gifts in the invitation itself.
An invitation sent out to the press by the World Gold Council (WGC) categorically mentions that every media person would receive a gold coin for attending the press conference announcing the winners in the pan-Arab jewellery design contest, Auditions.
Lama Al Saheb, Head of PR and Marketing, Middle East and Turkey, WGC, said: "The mention of gift was probably the agency's call. We usually offer those gifts, but we don't favour referring to it in press invitations.
"A lot of journalists call to know what they would be getting as a gift, and perhaps the agency thought it would be a good strategy to get them to attend," she said.
Al Saheb said: "With the current situation, we see less reporters at our events. Most have more than one event to cover a day and would depend on the PR agency sending them press releases, and many have been made redundant due to the current budget strains," she said.
Mohammad Salim, Account Manager at Idea PR, the agency handling the WGC event, said: "Why does it offend you? I assure you it is an innocent gesture. We have done it for years, not only for award announcements but for other events by the WGC as well."
The Middle East Public Relations Association (Mepra) has articulated as part of its PR code of ethics that no agency should offer a media gift worth over $50 (Dh184).
Rebecca Hill, Executive Director, Mepra, said the association did not believe in offering high-value gifts to journalists. "No Mepra members would offer any gifts to the media that would oppose our code of ethics. Should it be the clients' request to include this offering on their official event invitation, the agency has the right to suggest and recommend not to."
Idea PR agency is not a Mepra member.
"If an event is newsworthy, any journalist would be eager to attend without any extra attractions such as gifts," added Hill.
In September 2007, the UAE Journalists' Association also issued a code of ethics that pleaded media organisations should refuse any precious gifts.
Sami Al Reyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm, said: "The UAE Journalists' Association believes that accepting gifts of value for attending a media event or providing media coverage breeches a journalist's integrity."
The intention to lure media with gifts to attend functions and press conferences is becoming more blatant as PR agencies and event hosts are now mentioning the gifts in the invitation itself.
An invitation sent out to the press by the World Gold Council (WGC) categorically mentions that every media person would receive a gold coin for attending the press conference announcing the winners in the pan-Arab jewellery design contest, Auditions.
Lama Al Saheb, Head of PR and Marketing, Middle East and Turkey, WGC, said: "The mention of gift was probably the agency's call. We usually offer those gifts, but we don't favour referring to it in press invitations.
"A lot of journalists call to know what they would be getting as a gift, and perhaps the agency thought it would be a good strategy to get them to attend," she said.
Al Saheb said: "With the current situation, we see less reporters at our events. Most have more than one event to cover a day and would depend on the PR agency sending them press releases, and many have been made redundant due to the current budget strains," she said.
Mohammad Salim, Account Manager at Idea PR, the agency handling the WGC event, said: "Why does it offend you? I assure you it is an innocent gesture. We have done it for years, not only for award announcements but for other events by the WGC as well."
The Middle East Public Relations Association (Mepra) has articulated as part of its PR code of ethics that no agency should offer a media gift worth over $50 (Dh184).
Rebecca Hill, Executive Director, Mepra, said the association did not believe in offering high-value gifts to journalists. "No Mepra members would offer any gifts to the media that would oppose our code of ethics. Should it be the clients' request to include this offering on their official event invitation, the agency has the right to suggest and recommend not to."
Idea PR agency is not a Mepra member.
"If an event is newsworthy, any journalist would be eager to attend without any extra attractions such as gifts," added Hill.
In September 2007, the UAE Journalists' Association also issued a code of ethics that pleaded media organisations should refuse any precious gifts.
Sami Al Reyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm, said: "The UAE Journalists' Association believes that accepting gifts of value for attending a media event or providing media coverage breeches a journalist's integrity."
By Dima Hamadeh
© Emirates Business 24/7 2009
