If you write articles for print or online publications to position yourself as an expert, pay attention. It’s time to find out if you know what you’re doing when it comes to legal issues like copyright, or if you’re just pretending. Are the following scenarios true or false? –Cosmopolitan magazine prints an article written by… Read More
Oprah’s audience might not be right for you
Not a week goes by that somebody, someplace, doesn’t ask me “How do I get onto ‘Oprah’?” The question comes from some of the most unlikely candidates. They’re people with dry business topics that would lull Oprah’s viewers to sleep. Or they’ve written a boring book that just wouldn’t appeal to the demographics of her… Read More
The difference between journalists and bloggers
Many PR people have added bloggers to their media contact lists–and for good reason. Bloggers are making a name for themselves as legitimate news breakers, commentators and opinion-shapers. If you’re pitching your story to bloggers, you must understand the difference between a “real” journalist and a blogger. Journalists understand lingo such as exclusives, embargoes and… Read More
Hounds offer ideas to promote volunteer fire department
Ten Publicity Hounds have lots of ideas for Brien Farley of Genesee, Wisconsin who wants to promote the Wales Genesee Volunteer Fire Department. The department is raising money to build a new station. From Karen Fiala of Gold Cost, Australia: I was in the local shopping mall last week when I was approached by a… Read More
Fodder for bios
A frustrated Publicity Hound wrote to me recently, asking how she can write an interesting bio, even if she doesn’t have any “newsworthy” accomplishments. “How can you write a bio when you don’t have an MBA, have never received any awards, and haven’t appeared on TV or radio or in magazines?” she asks. Bios or… Read More
Hot ideas will help promote Cold War museum
Publicity Hounds come out of their bunkers to help Marion Grobb Finkelstein of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Marion asked for ideas on how to promote a local museum called the “Diefenbunker.” It’s an underground facility built during the Cold War and located about 30 minutes from downtown. From Florence Rabusseau of London, England: Revamp the image… Read More
Is your website ready to welcome journalists?
Right now, as you’re reading this, a journalist could be nosing around at your website, looking for clues that will help determine whether you’re worth covering. Will the reporter find typos galore, outdated news releases or incomplete contact information? PR pro Carolyn Moncel said there’s a checklist of items you should have at your website–things… Read More
Media summit like “speed-dating with top media”
If you’re looking for a way to get the attention of top national journalists, pay attention to these four tips courtesy of Mahesh Grossman, author of the book “Write a Book Without Lifting a Finger”: –Relationships are the name of the game. –You need to be your own publicist. –Try to tie in with the… Read More
Contact your trade group for publicity
During a telesphone seminar for Publicity Hounds in my mentoring program, one of my mentees asked how she can find labor statistics for a particular industry. The first answer that came to mind was the U.S. Department of Labor. But a much easier source, I said, might be a trade association. If you aren’t using… Read More
Multi-state library chain gets lots of publicity ideas
Eighteen Publicity Hounds who responded to a question in my ezine had lots of ideas for Tia Dobi of Los Angeles, California, who wants to promote a multi-state group of public libraries. “The majority of fliers and pamphlets generated are distributed within the confinements of the library. So nobody on the outside sees them,” she… Read More