Every PR person dreams of his or her company’s top executive gracing the pages of the newspaper, the darling subject of a flattering profile. But that’s not the dream of the reporters doing the interviewing and writing these stories. At a panel discussion entitled, “Beyond Puff Profiling,” at this year’s Society of American Business Editors and Writers conference in Boston, three reporters from major dailies talked about CEO profiles. While the advice given was for a room full of business journalists, the comments are enlightening for public relations professionals seeking such placement.
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If your CEO is media-ready, it’s time to pitch a profile story to the local business journal. But don’t make it sound self-promotional or you’ll strike out. Paul Furiga, former editor of The Pittsburgh Business Times, offers dozens of great tips on “How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story,” a one-hour recording of a telephone seminar available on audio cassette or CD. It’s $29.95 plus shipping. Read about the insider tips you will learn from Paul.