One of the biggest writing problems I see among people in my mentoring program, and others who hire me to improve their writing, is that they’re afraid to write like they talk. They never use one-word sentences. They refuse to start sentences with words such as “and” and “but” because an elementary teacher way back… Read More
TV Weatherperson’s Day
I’ve received so much great feedback from Publicity Hounds who have used my tip about “TV Weatherperson’s Day” on February 5 that I’m mentioning itagain. When it comes to celebrity status, the TV weather people are at the bottom of the totem pole. While the news anchor is invited to host a glitzy charity ball,… Read More
Who’s your daddy?
I confess to watching most of “Who’s Your Daddy?”, Fox’s maudlin melodrama in which a blonde babe tries to pick her biological father out of a line-up of seven men and pocket $100,000. She guessed correctly, of course. Adoptive parents and others, including the National Council for Adoption, pleaded with Fox’s 182 affiliates not to… Read More
Newspaper editors’ pet peeves
When I worked as a newspaper editor for more than 20 years, I had my own pet peeves about people who were clueless about working with the media. They included: –Idiots who called to complain, “You’ve written about my competitor three times but you’ve never written about me!” –News releases that didn’t list the name… Read More
Serious Publicity Hound recycle their publicity
Did you get mentioned in a newspaper or magazine article recently? Savvy Publicity Hounds are always looking for ways to turn one hit into multiple hits. Here’s how: –Make reprints of the article and include them in your media kit. –Post articles by and about you at your web site. –Send an e-mail to business… Read More
Invite reporter with a pet to cover vet clinic opening
Beth Ann Black of Coppell, Texas has a client, a large group of specialty veterinarians–all for animals–that will celebrate their fifth anniversary this spring. She wants fun promotional ideas, beyond the one they’ve already thought of: hosting an open house where current and potential clients bring teddy bears to be examined so the doctors can… Read More
Alternative publications
The more you pitch to large magazines and newspapers, the stiffer the competition for an editor’s attention. That’s why placing stories in alternative publications can be so much easier–and sometimes more effective. They have a ready-made audience for your topic, regardless of how obscure it is. Check out the New Pages Guide to Alternative Periodicals… Read More
Use AP stylebook when writing releases
Smart Publicity Hounds know about the Associated Press Stylebook, “the journalist’s bible.” It’s the 427-page, spiral-bound book, organized liked a dictionary, that journalists throughout the world consult when they need to know the correct acronym for a government agency. They check the stylebook when they needto know if it’s re-election or reelection, or whether the… Read More
How to Get Onto “The 700 Club”
Sharon Dotson of Bayou City PR in Houston, Texas wants to know how to get a client onto “The 700 Club,” a live TV program that airs weekdays from The Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) broadcast facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hosted by Pat Robertson, the program focuses on Christian ministry. From Sandy Dumont of Norfolk,… Read More
How to do background checks on reporters
In my workshop “Hey Boss, Mike Wallace is on Line 2,” I share a sneaky tip about how to do background checks on reporters. Not the kind that will tell you whether they’ve been picked up for drunken driving or filed for bankruptcy. Rather, the kind that will help you determine what kind of interviewer… Read More