The AIIM Blog - Overcoming Information Chaos

Document Management, Version Control and the Art of the Industry Press Release

Written by John Mancini | Feb 16, 2016 4:03:47 PM

Kudos to my friend Bob Zagami for bringing this to my attention from the editor of the RV Daily Report, Greg Gerber.

RV Daily Report Changes Press Release Publishing Policy

Organizations constantly struggle with the question of not only the volume of content and documents they are managing but amidst this chaos; they also wrestle with the question of "what is truth?"  Or, in more practical terms, what is the "official" version, who has approved it, and how can we track the chain of custody and modifications throughout the life cycle of a document?

This clearly bubbles up when it comes to interactions with industry organizations, and the use of industry organizations for the timely release of industry information.  With all of the above tensions exacerbated by the addition of external players (like agencies) added to the release approval equation, industry organizations can be caught in the middle of all this.  I have to say we've seen the kind of dynamic that frustrates Mr. Garber pop up here at AIIM on occasion.  Plus, his post gave me a bit of a chuckle on an icy Washington morning.

My favorite quote in the article was this:

If RV Daily Report receives a press release from an official representative of the company or organization or picks up a story from the firms’ social media accounts or the wire services, and it’s published in one of our newsletters, the story will NOT be removed.

The CEO can fall to the ground, flail his arms and legs, and hold his breath until his face turns blue, but it won’t matter.

Corporate attorneys can call me puffing their chests and beating them like Tarzan while threatening all types of hideous sanctions, but they’ll speak to the hand, as my teenage daughters use to say.

As a dad of daughters only and someone who grew up surrounded by females, I’ve endured more drama than any male should ever face in a lifetime. As a result, I’ve developed immunity to it.

Good for you, Mr. Gerber.