Party season is here. Please forgive me if we run into each other at an event and I don’t know who you are even though we have emailed or maybe even met on several occasions. Having done a straw poll of other food editors and journalists, I can confirm I’m not alone. A lot of journalists are just as clueless.

Perhaps it’s because journalists are easily flustered at social events. Perhaps it’s because we have face blindness and most business is conducted over emails these days so we have no idea what the PRs who email us look like. But it can sometimes be hard to put two and two together when actually meeting in person. I also find a lot of PRs expect you to know instantly who they are (not unreasonably) and don’t properly introduce themselves. As a result you’re left guessing who they are and feeling bad that you don’t.

Short of adopting a signature look that no one forgets, here are a few things I think help. Name cards aren’t always appropriate but they work. When I can see someone’s name written down, I’m much more inclined to make that vital name-face connection. (Of course this used to be the value of business cards, but who hands out those anymore?) Don’t swallow/rush your introduction and if necessary, reference any previous exchanges you might have had with the journalist so they can easily place you.

One-on-one introductions are more memorable than group introductions. Follow up the next day: an email from your work account is a good way to consolidate on a meeting in person. And have a portrait of you somewhere on your work Instagram, LinkedIn or equivalent. When I can see what you look like, I’m much more likely to make a proper connection.

Now where can I find the bar?