To the point: Hops and malt lost

Since the eager young man probably thinks that we journalists are not in a position to appreciate this new concept appropriately, he dutifully already suggests some topics and also points out that the new concept is running away via various channels and that various measures are planned. Aha, that's something completely new - groundbreaking, so to speak. He hurriedly points out to me that he would of course be happy to arrange a meeting with the person in charge, Mr. A.Z.. Okay, the young man can't know that I probably know A.Z. better than he does.

The next day, they follow up by phone. It has to be that way, because that's what his checklist says. After the obligatory introduction "Did you receive my mail?", the content of the mail is repeated verbally. So coherent is the boy, you have to give him that. I show interest in the subject and also tell him that I have known Mr. A.Z. for a long time and that I will therefore contact him directly to make an appointment. That was probably clumsy of me, because with that I offended him in his professional honor and he sees his promotion to spin doctor in danger. In order to cheer him up again, I give him the pleasure and tell him that he can make an appointment with A.Z. as a matter of course. He thanks me, but says apologetically that he does not have A.Z.'s appointments, he would get back to me.

After two days, he does the same. The only thing that is unclear is why he does it, because his message is only "Mr. Y from company XY would like to contact me about an appointment with Mr. A.Z.". Well, I'm really glad that the whole appointment process is going so smoothly. I thank the Spin-Assi for his efforts and am about to hang up the phone, but he still has a small request. I would certainly understand that the corporate communications department of company XY would like to have my questions for Mr. A.Z. in advance. Just so. That would simplify everything. That was the end of my patience and I explained to the young man that I was not prepared to deliver my questions in advance to the Corporate Communications people, who would have plenty of time after the interview with A.Z. to fiddle around with the text and knead it as boringly as possible, but in conformity with CC. As far as I was concerned, the story was dead and he should please make sure that all the departments involved were informed, so that no one would e-mail or call again.

That didn't work out then either.