I have two ideas that might provide an alternative to the recent PR firm blacklisting that’s been set up by both Gina Trapani and Chris Anderson (see yesterday’s blog for the context behind this post). I don’t believe in the concept of public blacklisting for infractions of the magnitude that’s been bandied about here. Genocide: yes, that’s pretty evil and a blacklist would be a minor punishment in such a case. I think that improperly using a personal E-Mail address is a somewhat smaller infraction.

So, here they are:

1. Set up a “no pitch” Wiki and remove the “banned PR” lists.

This Wiki would serve a similar purpose to the infamous “no call” registry set up by the US government. Bloggers/journalists/executives can voluntarily register so that they won’t get any unwanted PR pitches. In fact, they probably wouldn’t get any pitches at all.

Pros:

  • Makes it very clear, in a public forum, the identities of the people who do not want to be pitched to.
  • Less ostracizing than a black list.

Cons:

  • Unless flexibility is built in, bloggers/journalists/executives will be cut off completely from PR folks who do provide some value.
  • Compliance is voluntary and unenforceable.
  • Subject to gaming through the use of aliases and fake accounts to hide the identity of the rabid pitcher.

2. Set up a different Wiki whereby PR firms and employees publicly pledge to respect the rules of engagement for contacting bloggers or journalists.

If they break the rules, then they’re removed from this Wiki and are effectively blacklisted by omission.

Pros:

  • Would provide a means for self-regulation.
  • Does not publicly ostracize the offenders.

Cons:

  • Compliance is voluntary and unenforceable.
  • Subject to gaming through the use of aliases and fake accounts to hide the identity of the rabid pitcher.

Shoot holes in them, please

Now, as I’ve previously stated, I don’t work in the PR field and I’m not an A-list blogger, so I really don’t know what other party deals with when their work is a job, not a hobby.

Therefore, I invite those people more knowledgeable than me to tear apart these two ideas and, if they can, build something better. Let’s go!

P.S. (edit after publication) - these two ideas are band-aids, though…

P.P.S. - interesting discussion on this topic by Mack Collier at Marketing Profs Daily Fix.

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