A journalist recounts dropping a single tape containing footage from a £10,000 international shoot down six flights of stairs, destroying it. This highlights how the value of physical media is not the object itself, but the costly work invested in its content. Simple carelessness can lead to significant financial loss.
A BBC journalist warns that if the PR person who promised specific access isn't physically on the press trip, it's a major red flag. He cites two examples where their absence led to on-the-ground teams being unaware of arrangements, resulting in failed interviews and access to R&D labs being denied.
A UK-based PR firm secured a BBC crew's visit to Asia by promising a demo of a secret, motion-sensitive TV. Upon arrival, the local team had no such device and tried to distract the crew with a bamboo PC. This illustrates how a 'yes culture' can lead to promising non-existent products, ultimately destroying credibility.