If I worked as a hot-shot PR person, was 20 years younger, and especially if I was job-hunting, I’d be trying to win one of the coveted “15 to Watch” annual awards from PR Week magazine. Hiring managers love seeing awards like that on resumes. This year’s deadline is June 20. It’s open to 15 budding PR leaders… Read More
Publicity Blog
Family Circle editor wants lifestyle products, services
If you sell a product service that has an emotional connection with women and teens, you should be pitching your story idea to Family Circle magazine. Lots of pitching tips from FC articles editor Darcy Jacobs are yours free when you sign up for a no-risk, no-obligation trial subscription to the Bulldog Reporter Lifestyle Media newsletter. The newsletter offers… Read More
‘How to be a model’ seminars need promotion, publicity ideas
Roxie Hickman of Racine, Wisconsin asks: “How can my daughter, a professional model, and I can promote our informational seminars for aspiring models? The target audience is girls ages 12 to 25, and of course, their parents. Lots of young girls want to be a model, but there is not much information readily available that explains… Read More
Blog traffic can be yours if you use these 56 tips from Seth Godin
Seth Godin’s excellent list of “How to Get Traffic for Your Blog” includes lots of things I was taught to do when I worked as a newspaper reporter: Use lists Break news Include polls, meters and other eye candy. Point to useful but little-known resources. Write about a never-ending parade of topics so you don’t bore your… Read More
Fitness magazine wants exercise, health, nutrition products to review
If you sell a product that helps people stay fit, submit it to Fitness magazine, one of the major magazines concentrating on exercise, health and nutrition information. But don’t expect the editors to simply pick up the glowing pros from your news release. All products are tested, says Jennifer Matarazzo, associate editor of Fitness. She also says it’s important… Read More
Where do reporters find stories? Here are 50 places
People in the media will never admit to outsiders, but they often think their occupation gives them a license to snoop. I certainly thought so when I worked as a newspaper reporter in Ohio in the seventies and eighties. In fact, I loved to eavesdrop during my lunch hour. I’d go to a local restaurant with another… Read More
Los Angeles, Boston Police Departments are blogging
Lots of police departments I’ve worked with as a reporter usually rate a D or F when it comes to public relations. But give the Los Angeles Police Department an A for effort for its new blog. It includes run-of-the mill stuff like internal promotions. But you’ll also find lots of newsy tidbits. Yesterday, for example, the department blogged… Read More
Child abuse stories can make it onto TV with creative pitches
My friend, TV reporter Shawne Duperon, has fabulous ideas on how to get TV people interested in your story. In her ezine this week, she featured the following question from Chris Jamieson of the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect: “I work in the child abuse prevention field. Typically, these stories only hold water with the… Read More
Fact-checks with reporters help ensure accurate stories
When I read a correction in this morning’s paper, it reminded me to remind you that whenever a print reporter interviews you for a story, never ask if it’s OK to read the story before it’s printed because you’re afraid they’ll screw it up. That’s not the way the game is played, and it will label you as… Read More
Radio, TV talk shows need emergency guests
If you’ve been a guest on a TV or radio show and you’d love to make a return visit this summer, here’s a quick way to get the producer’s attention. Offer to fill in if a guest cancels or runs into travel problems. Radio and TV talk show hosts dread having to fill an entire hour… Read More