The post also led to a great discussion on Twitter with insightful comments from both PR types and journalists. Here are the highlights:

@LynMacLeod "I like to think of communications ppl as "gate openers" not "gate keepers" "

@wheredoitype While there are indeed unethical PR people, I think they're about evenly matched with unethical journalists....I'd equate the relationship to humans/bears. While (each) assume the other is out to get us, we're actually just as scared of each other."

@Geeynots For the most part, hacks and flacks just don't trust each other. There are exceptions... PR presents its message and it's called spin. Journo's present their version and it's called slant.... In my experience, neither is a bad as the other thinks, but I don't see the attitude changing much... It think there are a few in both camps who makes the rest look bad. It can be frustrating."

@jennhoegg "I'm very grateful for helpful communications folk who understand what my priorities are... Even when they can't answer my ?s. As for those who pester at deadline looking for advertorially fluff..."

I might be wasting my time as a former journalist-turned-PR colleague once told me, but I'm going to continue writing and teaching about ethical communcation practice. Perhaps if journalists paid attention to their ethics as well, there would be fewer misunderstandings all around -- and a bit more respect.