Take two… because media literacy matters

I admit, I did this a little backwards. 

The ‘this’ is a previous quasi-intro to pissedoffpublicist.com.

Even after some people said they liked the concept and that any media literacy guide would be useful, I wanted to know how I felt about it. So I wrote and posted about a topic that, in retrospect, could have fit my regular PR newsletter, SIDEbar (YouTube TV vs. Disney standoff). And let’s face it, judged on the domain alone, pissedoffpublicist.com could be interpreted as negative. So I had to wear it for a bit.

Why Pissed Off Publicist?

When I bought the URL, pissedoffpublicist.com wasn’t meant to be a whine fest. It was to define journalism and PR and their roles in our society, often with examples.

So here we are. We’ll work to hold professionals accountable, because that’s part of journalism’s purpose.

Journalism and PR — what’s the difference?

Pissedoffpublicist.com will explain different forms of journalism and identify differences between journalism and PR. For instance, “I hate media because it always …” take doesn’t work because not all media serve the same purpose. Reporters have different roles than editors, and editorial writers have different jobs from feature writers. Electronic media serve a different form of journalism than print. Paid media is different than earned media. Then there are public relations and publicity specialists who work with journalists — but they’re not the same.

I would say that credentialed journalists are as important to our communities as doctors, lawyers and teachers. After all, who keeps them all accountable? Journalists.

Peer through the PR window

Even when I work with crisis communications clients, I respect that it’s a journalist’s job to ask tough questions, verify facts and accurately report them. Will there be errors and misinterpretations? Sure. Then it’s on us to show proof and ask for corrections. Accountability is what keeps communities honest and functioning. 

Express, don’t suppress

Freedom of the press — meaning access to public institutions and leaders — must be protected with everything we’ve got. 

If you’re confused about any of this, contact me. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll find someone better qualified and who does. 

Thanks for joining me on this ship’s second stop.

© 2025, Gail Sideman, pissedoffpublicist.com

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