TL by Myoni
Edited by Myoni & Yoni
“However, team leader.”
Hyunjo tapped the table with his finger as he pondered.
“Don’t you think that we’ll get criticized if we release articles too aggressively? Netizens these days are quick-witted and are able to tell if an article was sponsored by their agency or not.”
“That’s why we have to make sure we’re not too aggressive.”
“Was it Star Trend? Not long ago, I couldn’t read their one of their articles since it was plastered with words like successful debut, strong impression and rising star.”
“I will make sure to tell them to refrain from doing that. We all know they flopped so it would have been embarrassing… The reporter’s intern probably wrote it.”
Listening to the conversation, I started to connect the relationship between the management team, PR team and reporters.
A manager would hand over article-worthy materials to the PR team and the PR team would send it out or give it to a close reporter to release a more sincerely written article.
If the celebrity had enough following, that article would be copied exactly by other mass media outlets, in other words, Urakkai articles[1]. If not, it would be buried without any replies.
Just like Neptune’s articles that could only be found by searching through a search engine.
“And Chief. The afternoon interview we have scheduled today.”
“The G-Today one?”
“Yes. I think it’s best we tell them not to say, ‘it must have been hard’, ‘you guys have endured a lot,’ excessively. We might get reactions like, ‘Just how hard could being a celebrity be?’ and ‘Who in the world hasn’t endured a lot.’”
“Then I guess we’ll just have to say that we’ll try our best.”
“That’s probably the best. Since they are going in as a replacement, if they even look a bit bad, then they will probably get criticized.”
“Then let’s wait for the reactions of the first broadcast before moving forward…”
I didn’t know when, but the meeting was proceeding more and more like a meeting. Even the male-female pair were tapping on their laptops. They were writing something on Word.
I didn’t feel right just sitting there so I took out a new notebook and jotted down the words coming out of Team Leader Park and Hyunjo’s mouths.
“What do you think about asking Blackout to mention them on their Instagram account? If the article headline contained both Blackout and Neptune, I think it will have quite the media following.”
“Let’s wait on that. When we showed them off last time as Blackout’s younger sister group, the reactions weren’t very good. If something goes wrong, Neptune, who are just starting to get attention, might be branded as unlikeable. Blackout fans are so intense.”
“If we do that, the company will even receive complaints.”
“That’s right. Hundred percent right. Hundred percent.”
Team Leader Park who was scratching her head suddenly asked.
“But, Chief. The Neptune girls have no personal problems, right?”
“They don’t.”
“If there is anything that can’t be revealed to the reporters, we have to know first. What could have been stopped with a short-handled hoe will grow to something that can’t be stopped with a shovel[2].”
“They really don’t.”
“No one with a boyfriend? The rapper from Punchline seems to have taken a liking to Songha.”
Hyunjo was surprised.
“Who’s the guy, are you sure?”
“I’m just telling you what I heard from their stylist. You have to say I’m almost sure. Punchline will appear together with Neptune on Next K-Star. Since they already have a fanbase, it’ll be bad if there’s a scandal. We really can’t.”
“I know that already. I’ll keep a careful watch.”
“Both of you should watch them with care as well.”
Team Leader Park advised as she looked at Gunyoung and me.
“If a suspicious situation arises, we’ll tell you immediately.”
“Yes.”