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Topic : Editor of a publication changed Press Release headline to the point the meaning changed, what can be done? The PR headline I provided was, Acme Co to exhibit in western states for first - selfpublishingguru.com

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The PR headline I provided was,

Acme Co to exhibit in western states for first time

The editor changed it to

Acme Co expands sales program to western United States

These are fundamentally different ideas. Acme Co already has some dealers in the western United States. Acme Co however has never traveled west to exhibit at any trade shows. Additionally, Acme Co sells exclusively through dealers. I find the new headline a bit misleading and not suited to our goal:

We already have dealers in the West. We're looking to expand our dealer network.

What methods can I use to address this or since it is in a sense "free advertising" is it best to just let it go?


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Even though I'm late to the game, I'll submit in the hope that my answer will be useful in the future. The following may come off as cynical but it isn't meant that way - it's just my opinion on the purpose and intent of a corporate PR publication.

You mentioned (justifiable) concern that the revised headline is misleading, but when it comes to corporate press releases, accuracy and clarity of message are generally secondary in importance. That's because they're more advertising than reporting. If people expected objectivity and accuracy from corporate press releases, they'd look to car manufacturers for useful reviews on their models, energy companies for updates on the latest developments in solar panel tech, etc.

Consider the edits in the context of other publications you've submitted. That will probably tell you if the editor changed the wording out of incompetence/sloppiness or because they wanted to communicate another idea - no matter how inaccurate. For example, Acme co. may want to re-emphasize their presence in the area. Since a company is not expected to adhere to principles of journalistic integrity, they might have decided the best way to grab potential dealers' attention is to give the impression they're "breaking into" the region.

In other words, consider the chances that the editor changed the wording intentionally rather than carelessly, and raise/don't raise the issue depending on your conclusion.


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