One of the things I hated about the newspaper business was our failure, as a whole, to teach people how to use the newspaper. That’s why I welcome a new program started by the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colorado. It’s sponsoring an in-person training session for its MyTown site. It’s running full-color, half-page ads in… Read More
L.A. Times changes editorial pages
The L.A. Times, in yesterday’s editions, announced a variety of changes to its editorial pages. Next week, it will announce the introduction of “wikitorials” — an online feature that will let readers rewrite Los Angeles Times editorials. Letters to the editor and opinion columns are a terrific way to promote your product, service, cause or… Read More
Why Publicity Hounds must have good-quality publicity photos
I’ll bet at least 3 out of 4 of you who are reading this right now don’t have a good-quality photo of yourself that you can give to a reporter or editor who asks for it. Photos are often far more powerful than articles. Every time my photo appears in the newspaper along with a… Read More
PR tips at AMA website
PR Newswire is now providing educational PR content to the American Marketing Association’s website. It includes writing tips, frequently asked questions and educational articles including: Using Your Website as an Effective PR Tool; Six Simple Steps for Turning Your Company into a Heavily Quoted Source; Tips on Writing an Effective Feature Article; Press Release Writing… Read More
Don’t take boring check-passing photos
A Publicity Hound who just started reading this newsletter emailed me last week, asking if I have any clever suggestions for an interesting check-passing photo. Sorry, I said. There is no such thing. Every check-passing photo looks alike. Two people stand shoulder-to-shoulder, each clutching one end of a check and staring into the camera with… Read More
Don’t overlook ethnic media oulets
When you’re creating a media plan, don’t overlook the numerous ethnic media outlets, from small weekly newspapers to specialty radio shows. This article at WashingtonPost.com says the landscape of ethnic media has grown more crowded in recent years, reinforced by the same immigration patterns that are driving the nation’s population growth. It has been particularly… Read More
How PR people can help Capitol Hill reporters
Gwyneth Shaw, the Baltimore Sun’s Capitol Hill correspondent, is always on the lookout for a new angle on legislation or a study. In this article by PR newswire, she offers tips on how the public relations community can provide useful content for reporters like her by offering timely studies or experts.
Honey, the money dog
Filling up your gas tank doesn’t get more fun than this. When Don Rogers picked up a cocker spaniel named Honey six years ago at the dog pound, he could never have guessed the fame she would bring to his gas station–Crazy D’s All American Fireworks at the El Cheapo Gas Station just off I-95… Read More
How to promote software that claims it will change your life
Noah St. John of Dracut, Massachusetts writes: Our new program called JUST ASK ME Mind Makeovers is the first software that uses questions, rather than statements, to help people change their lives. You’ve heard of “affirmations”? Our program uses AFFORMATIONS, which are empowering questions that get you to change your subconscious assumptions about life (for… Read More
Contact info for L.A. radio stations
If you want to get booked as a guest on a Los Angeles radio station, check out LARadio.com, a subscription site that gives you access to news about L.A. radio stations, behind-the-scenes bulletins and breaking news, night-before headlines delivered to your email box, more than eight years of archived columns, more than 1,000 email addresses… Read More