At the end of the dot-com era, the Orlando Business Journal asked PR guy Richard Laermer what he thought of WordWise, a local firm that had hired a person full-time to get them a horde of industry awards. Laermer says WordWise did no advertising but “this hardly-shy communications agency pursued a different strategy: it won… Read More
Every author should hear this media panel
If you’re going to New York City next week for the BookExpo America convention, don’t miss Steve Harrison’s media panel on Saturday. I’ll be there. I attended this last year when it was part of the convention, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. A panel of top-tier print and broadcast journalists… Read More
Tips on how old media can survive
Today’s Wall Street Journal has a great section titled “how Old Media Can Survive in a New World.” It’s loaded with tips from experts on how the traditional newspaper, television, music and advertising industries can survive. The section is worth keeping. Some of the tips will probably come to pass. And it will help you… Read More
How to convince a magazine to write about maternity boutique
This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips Andrew Ingram of Toronto, Canada. He and his wife own a high-end maternity boutique. A local magazine that has a Best of Toronto section and a fashion guide continues to ignore them. Andrew wants clever publicity ideas that will get the boutique into the magazine and elsewhere. From… Read More
Clear pronunciation needed for a stint on NPR
Among the most loyal listeners of National Public Radio–ready for this?–are taxi cab drivers in Washington, D.C. and probably those elsewhere through the United States. Many listeners who are non-English speaking immigrants say that NPR and public radio in general give them the best information and the clearest diction on American radio. They appreciate NPR’s… Read More
Pitch stories to Religion News Service
When I attended my niece’s high school football game in Ohio last fall, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the cheerleaders looked like (starts with the letters SL and rhymes with mutts). Apparently, it’s not just me feeling old again. A story in my local paper yesterday discussed the spirited debate over what’s… Read More
Help This Hound promote a glare eliminator
John Cicale of Deptford, New Jersey writes: “I invented and produced the Glare Eliminator, with my own money. It’s a reusable static cling headlight window tint that cuts glare from your driver’s side window. It clings to the inside of your window, and when you’re finished with it, you simply peel it off, place it… Read More
Why food bribes work with broadcast media
The Milwaukee Brewers are off to a good start this year–yet another reminder of how using food to entice reproters to cover your story works. While Harley-Davidson was welcoming several hundred thousand bikers at its giant 100th anniversary reunion in Milwaukee several years ago, popular afternoon drive-time talk show host Mark Belling opened his show… Read More
Getting the mainstream media’s attention for an ethical business campaign
Shel Horowitz of Frugal Fun in Massachusetts asks: “In June, I started a campaign to change the business paradigm–to create a climate where ethical business is the norm. I see this as a 10-year effort, and I have a background in both marketing and organizing. This is not the first time I’ve attempted to do… Read More
May sweeps month not a good time to pitch TV news
If you’re pitching your local TV stations and not having much luck this month, it might be because we’re in the middle of May sweeps. Newsrooms everywhere are broadcasting their big investigative stories designed to boost the all important Nielsen ratings. Unless your pitch is time-sensitive, hold off pitching for another few weeks. Use this… Read More