What does the team think?

This is a headline with a double meaning.

It's about such a situation, but also I'd be keen to find out if any who read this have any views.

It is an interesting insight into the dilemmas posed all the time by, to and from those in the media game.

What surprised me was that I was in the minority in my advocacy. But I also had an unwelcome reminder of what in reporting shapes the story. If they can find a downside... they will. So if you have a commercial imperative, you risk no critique, no matter what the cost.

It was a sincere question to a press/PR Forum about a dilemma. Here's the question (and a follow up, out of sequence, having had some input):

'Just wanted to get general feedback on this from some journalists and
PRs.

I had a press pack printed last week, both on CD and a paper version, it is
for a product launch which is now subject to a delay of a week or 10 days
(still to be confirmed) BUT the press pack contents which were printed last
week have the original launch date on them.

My question - is it acceptable to send the pack out with a note highlighting
the launch date change or do I bin everything and start again.

My head tells me to bin, my heart tells me to send out with a revision note
(hate to see the waste) but I am worried it will make me and the client look
incompetent.....'

'....I guess the sticker route might be an option, will try out and see how it
looks. This leaves me with just the duplication of the CDs which is a
minimal effort to get redone.

The packs are being sent out with product, so having hard copy of the press
information makes sense rather than the launch being communicated online.
The client is in an industry which is vulnerable to launch setbacks so it
may not look too dodgy/unprofessional to go with the sticker revision.'

Tally so far...

PRO

'Just a thought, but can you get stickers printed to go over the old date?'

'The professionalism/image side of me sees how a reprint is the only
option.

It rather depends on context. These days things change in a
heartbeat... which is why doing stuff online is a breeze. I used to
hate looking at pallets of scrapped brochures in the printers' yard
just because the overseas CEO dropped in after all had been signed off
and wanted their way of spelling used. Which is what set me off doing
as much as possible via the web.

But in this day and age I think there is almost merit in sticking with
it so long as the change is done well via a slick (as suggested )
sticker, Addendum insert, etc.

It's just a date. You hadn't sent it out yet. Nothing else is wrong.
Heck, it may even be an opportunity to make it stand out more!

Go with your heart.'

'No pressure... but I am keen to get you to see the possible advantages
of going over to the green side:)

Fully appreciate the hard copy situation... sometimes the whole eco
thing can do your head in a bit weighing creativity and 'doing the
job' vs. a purist's approach to all things enviro.

If the industry is prone to moving targets on dates then I'd say
that's a vote in favour of the sticker.

If you want to email me off list on info [at] junkk.com maybe we can
swap numbers and have a wee chat on possible options if it's not
confidential that make a silk purse out of this sow's ear (well, if
we're talking a few thousand it might get sticky. But I did something
very similar with a brochure, a hole punch, letter stamp, a bottle cap
and a ring pull)? I have a whole website with fun notions on this very
topic at my disposal!'

CON

'I would do it properly, start again...
Sending out old information will just raise questions and create more work.'

'I would get everything re-printed – it looks bad otherwise and might make
people [wonder] why there was a delay...'

'Just write yourself the headline "[client] SUFFERS DELAY" a few times and
see how you feel about it. Change the date.'

'Tough call...I totally understand your reticence to reprint but think it's
the best option. Environmentally sounder to add an addendum or put a sticker
over it, but from a PR point of view I think it's better to do the reprint
and avoid raising questions and/or potentially looking unprofessional.

Can you use the paper for something else...exciting scrap pads??!'

At least that last was trying for a positive.

At the end of the day it's their client, and product, in an industry they must know, reported on by a trade press whose tendencies must be clear. At least they tried. And if the client changed the date after an agreed production schedule and cost estimate then it's their wallets. I guess the planet may lose a little, but it's understandable in the face of such 'pressures'. Pity.