the(new)mediaslut

Pay some thought to the footers of some corporate emails which state ‘if you are not the intended recipient…’. Nobody pays much heed to them, but that clause sits there for a reason.

Some tech journos across Singapore were treated to a bit of a surprise earlier this week when the following email arrived in their respective inboxes.

Sent from the marketing manager of one tech company (best known for its display monitors) to her friend cum counterpart in another company, the email contained ’sound’ bits of marketing advice. It read thus:

"These are the few regular ones… I suggest you dig up who you have advertise with and call up the sales person who use to in charge of your account and introduce yourself as the new person on board who will be in charge of Marketing & Advertising (advertisement $$$). They will usually try to be nice by giving you upfront coverage/exposure so that you will give them advert $$$."

Said marketing manager proceeded to list some email addresses (the same ones who ended up being the cc recipients of the email). Let it be noted the list also contained the news desk of a pretty prominent local newspaper.

Needless to say, the local IT media was kept entertained for awhile. A recall for the email was issued, but the damage had already been done.

So what happens then? Bring in the good old PR fire engine with its fleet of damage dousing hoses, of course.

This following email arrived the next day, this time with the journos as the intended recipients.

“Dear XXX,
I truly apologize for the earlier email which was meant to give a friend tips on her first attempt on press release… and it turned out to be my blunder.
This is truly a genuine mistake at my part and I apologize for what was unintentional and not directed at your credible publication and team.

Your understanding and magnanimity and I still look forward to your support regardless as always.
Thank you and sorry. : (
Sincerely,
YYY”

How much reputation can one salvage when the recipient of the scandalous email happens to be the media? Bad choice of industry to piss off, just plain…bad…

Those of you who blindly click the ’send’ button on your email client without first checking the content and list of recipients ought to kick that habit. You might find yourself in a sticky PR situation, otherwise.

All that aside, that first email might still have counted as decent marketing advice…Oh, the irony…