Here’s another example of how the line between news and advertising is more blurred than ever. The next time you’re watching the news on your local FOX station, or on a station owned by the Meredith Corporation, look on the desk in front of the anchors. You might spot a cup of iced coffee from… Read More
Hungry reporter gets a free gourmet burger, thanks to Twitter
Twenty years ago, when I worked in the newspaper business, if a local company had delivered to my newsroom a free gourmet burger that I could enjoy at lunch, I probably would have turned red from embarrassment, then eaten it, with my fellow newsroom buddies watching. Gourmet burgers, after all, didn’t fall into the “anything… Read More
8 interview mistakes you don’t want to make
Of all the possible mistakes you can make when interviewing with the media, the worst one in my book is lying. Bend the truth, even just a little, and that little white lie can suddenly become the story and have far more traction than the original story you were being interviewed for. Remember Watergate? And… Read More
Natural hair care products company needs publicity ideas
Dalia Wallach of New York, New York writes: “My company has a line of specialty hair care products. Our Get Glow products nourish your hair with formulas that include vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. “As your hair gets healthier, it starts to look better and you don’t have to wash it as often which is… Read More
When doctors shill for pharmas, what’s a PR person to do?
Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, writes: Periodically, in response to a request, I’ll get a quote from a doctor (via a publicist) that mentions a specific product. Inevitably, I Google the doctor and he or she has been or is on the payroll for the folks who make the product. There’s no mention… Read More
How to make news when there’s no news
Here’s a quick trick for creating news when there’s absolutely nothing new to pitch. Be willing to talk about your business problems and how you solved them. Pick up any business journal and you’ll see company after company mentioned, usually because they’ve figured out ways to solve a problem, whether it’s delivering the product faster… Read More
Philadelphia remodeling firm needs marketing ideas
Teresa Berger of North Wales, Pennsylvania writes: “As marketing director for Creative Contracting, Inc., a Philadelphia-area design/build remodeling firm, it’s my responsibility to get the company and its ownership more exposure in the community. The owner wants me to get him in front of more people, and find outlets for giving seminars and speeches to consumers, business networking organizations… Read More
Facebook, social networking sites make the cash register ring
This is for the doubting Thomases who aren’t convinced that social networking can be profitable. I promoted last week’s teleseminar series “How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything–Ethically & Powerfully” by creating an event on my Facebook page. My assistant then invited my 1,028 friends. At $77, I wasn’t sure how many Facebook friends would attend,… Read More
Journalists suspicious of ‘green’ story ideas
When Bulldog Reporter invited me to be a guest panelist on the July 24 teleseminar designed to help Publicity Hounds create news when there is no news, I jumped at the chance. I wrote three pages of notes for the session titled “Evergreen Magic for PR: Media Masters Show How to Make News When There’s… Read More
Learn killer sound bites at media training Aug. 1 in New York
If Oprah called tomorrow, or Larry King, or the “Today” Show, and wanted to book you for an appearance later this week, would you be scurrying around at the last minute trying to find a media trainer? What about that New York Times reporter you’ve been pitching for two years? If he called to interview you,… Read More