Hi guys. I'm being asked to give a comment on an old startup I worked for with the WSJ. What is the general consensus on talking to the press about an old job (people always asked about [redacted company], but my severance was on the line).
I have no ties, and was technically fired due to performance (i.e. I had another job offer and they found out).
I don't want to be an asshole, but I'd definitely give them some of the juicy deets of how it went down over there. Just what's your opinion.
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doesnt sound like you have much to worry about, though if you are concerned on where to draw the line, obviously consider what you have to gain from it, e.g. are they going to link to your website/twitter etc? (if you have your own thing)
That's exactly what I want to do. I want to plug my website and will be named as CEO of XXX, prior Account Executive at blah.
But I feel they're trying to get a bit of dirt maybe. So I plan to draw a line, but is telling the truth going to be a negative light?
they'll definitely want dirt, they want the most interesting story possible, SSits nailed it pretty good below. go in with a plan and if they ask you a question youre not comfortable with just decline to answer, or steer the answer in a direction that works for you
You can remain anonymous, can't you?
Speak to them on the condition of anonymity, with the article referencing you only as "Blue Horseshoe"
Typically when there's an option of speaking to the media, the upside is very limited, if not non-existent. The potential downside is significant.
You've referred to plugging your existing business. Journalists are not your friend. You are a means to an end for them. They may promise to plug you, but chances are they won't do that in the final piece (what's in it for them?).
Even if the journalist sincerely intends to include a plug for you, he/she has to get that past the sub-editors. Sub-editors owe you nothing.
I've seen people talk to journalists, only then for the sub-editor to take the story and completely turn it around compared to what the journalist originally intended (if you assume the journalist was telling the truth to the interviewee in the first place). The resulting story has fucked over the interviewees.
In short, don't trust journalists at all. Do not believe their promises, don't think you can play the game for your own upside etc. Chances are, at the very best you'll come out with no upside, at worst you'll be completely fucked over by the whole thing.
EDIT: If you're planning to do this anonymously, then what's in it for you? No upside at all. And you still risk being identified, as the journalist may not name you, but leave enough clues that make it clear to the old employers who you are. So there's a good chance of downside risk.
Journalists will fuck you over. They'll fuck you like an octopus in a Japanese cartoon. They'll fuck you in directions you never saw them coming from and in every orifice.
EDIT EDIT: Some of my best friends are journalists.
Quit feigning ignorance of hentai ...
better watch out for them best friends, else they'll do a piece on you lol
Think how it's going to make you look if they flip it around - you might end up looking like an assehole taking it out on a company he was fired from and that's not going to make your current company look good either.
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