An article in the October 2007 issue of PR Tactics includes a great tip for pitching the Wall Street Journal and any other business publication. It’s courtesy of Gene Coulter, editorial director at Peppercom in New York and former news editor of the Money Investing section of the Journal. “You need to learn how to think like a… Read More
How to Interview
National Publicity Summit success story
Have you ever had these kinds of nightmares? —You’re taking a final exam for a college course, and it suddenly dawns on you that you’ve never attended one class. —You’re going about your business, usually at work or in a public place, and realize you aren’t wearing any clothes. —All your teeth have fallen out. Dream… Read More
Media interviews frightening? This card deck will help
At times, I dislike doing media interviews, particularly with reporters at top-tier publications whose interview style makes me feel rushed, or I suspect the journalist is either dense or biased. Crisis counselor Lou Hampton of the Hampton Group in Washington, D. C. says we don’t have to be afraid. He offers these six handy phrases to use during interviews: “Let… Read More
Paris Hilton can teach you about interviews
Paris Hilton can teach you a thing or two about how to interview on a national TV talk show. During her exclusive interview with Larry King last week, Hilton mentioned that when she was behind bars, she read the Bible. When King asked, “What’s your favorite Bible passage?” She hesitated a long time, then said,… Read More
Media interviews: Balance of power has shifted to sources
If you’re involved in a news story and you’re afraid the media will misrepresent you, slant the news, or write it according to their own agenda, don’t refuse comment, thinking they’ll just go away and leave you alone. As I’ve said so many times before, refusing an interview is akin to screaming “we’re guilty,” even if… Read More
Spokesperson media training for geeks
When news breaks at your company or nonprofit, sometimes the only expert you can find to appear in front of the TV cameras is a geek. Usually, it’s somebody who wears a white lab coat and talks in industry lingo that only other geeks can understand. For example, let’s say you do PR for a pharmaceutical… Read More
Monday Morning Media Minute resumes
PR guy Jerry Brown’s excellent Monday Morning Media Minute ezine resumes after a two-year hiatus. It’s a quick one-minute read, delivered to your email box each Monday morning, that gives you a quick tip about how to work with the media. Today’s topic, for example, is how to frame an issue to control the debate. The… Read More
Media bias: The ugly truth
It’s amazing how clearly you can see things in hindsight. Like media bias, for instance. During the 22 years I worked as a newspaper reporter and editor, if you had told me the media were biased, I’d have wanted to arm-wrestle you. But here we are, 12 years later. In the column I wrote for Bulldog Reporter… Read More
Crisis management: Learn from the best
Crisis manager Jonathan Bernstein, one of the very best in the business, has been teaching companies how to get out of trouble—or stay out of it—for more than 20 years. Today, he’s dealing with the most unusual crisis he’s ever seen. In an email message this afternoon to subscribers of his electronic newsletter, he writes: “I am probably,… Read More
Mr. Shell Oil, wipe that smile off your face
Whoever trained Shell Oil President John Hofmeister on how to do media interviews, particularly on TV, forgot to tell the client that when discussing high gasoline prices, don’t smile and look like you’re having a good time. On “Meet the Press” this morning, Hofmeister had an ear-to-ear grin on his face while he was answering Tim Russert’s questions… Read More