Like any industry or sector, Communications people have their own language of lingo and jargon. It's hard for anyone working in an industry to not pick up and use the jargon, and I expect that Communications people would be more aware of the issue than the average person. Still, everyone makes mistakes now and again.

I noticed this blooper on New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys' Facebook page "Presser on infrastructure investments".

It's not a major, but I found it amusing all the same.  A "presser" is a press conference; it's a jargon term, and it's amusing when used around people who don't know the alternative meaning of the word. I'm also told a presser is also used in woolsheds to make sure the sheep are moving forward.

The reason I mention this is because more often than not, Communications people are responsible for what the public read and see of people who live in the public eye. Often public figures, like Prime Ministers, don't have time to manage or update their own Facebook pages, so their Communications staff manage this type of contact. Most of the time we are unaware of this process until the Communications person gives themselves away by using jargon or gobbledegook. This isn't a bad case at all, but how damaging could it potentially be if the general public find out that the public figure actually has nothing to do with their own Facebook page? That comment you got the Prime Minister? It wasn't actually him at all! In fact, the Prime Minister has no idea who you are, or even that he is responsible for posting a happy birthday comment to you. How does that leave you feeling?

It's obvious to most Communications people that keeping your own profile low is a good idea. Staying as invisible as possible will help people not to become distracted by or disillusioned with your presence.

Does anyone have other examples of Communications people forgetting to remove jargon from their external work?