Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, writes: Periodically, in response to a request, I’ll get a quote from a doctor (via a publicist) that mentions a specific product. Inevitably, I Google the doctor and he or she has been or is on the payroll for the folks who make the product. There’s no mention… Read More
Media Relations
Journalists suspicious of ‘green’ story ideas
When Bulldog Reporter invited me to be a guest panelist on the July 24 teleseminar designed to help Publicity Hounds create news when there is no news, I jumped at the chance. I wrote three pages of notes for the session titled “Evergreen Magic for PR: Media Masters Show How to Make News When There’s… Read More
How to get journalists to mention your website
A common frustration with media interviews results when the reporter, for whatever reason, never mentions your website. Here’s a way to solve that problem. The next time somebody interviews you, and the reporter asks for the name of your company, use your website URL, not the actual company name. Instead of me being the owner… Read More
If a journalist uses humor in a query, use it in your pitch
If you subscribe to a service that gives you leads from journalists who are looking for certain types of sources, pay attention to the way the reporter has written the query. Peter Shankman, whose free leads service called “Help a Reporter Out,” flags this terrific pitch from Jenny Schmitt, who works for the Georgia State… Read More
7 resources make it easy for journalists to find you
Even the most carefully written publicity plan can be downright frustrating if you pitch journalist after journalist and you hear nothing back. I just finished a free article Find Journalists Using These 7 Resources. It lists seven resources that Publicity Hounds can use to get in front of journalists. One is a free leads service. Four are subscirption-based leads services.… Read More
NPR Books Watch Contest goal: Get more authors on NPR
When National Public Radio interviews an author, it’s almost a ticket to the top of the Amazon.com lists. But the way book publicist Yen Cheong calculates it, the chances of an author landing an interview on National Public Radio is 15 times harder than getting into Harvard. Cheong, the assistant director of publicity for Viking and Penguin Books in… Read More
Know journalists who Twitter? Add them to this wiki
Everybody, it seems, is Twittering these days. And for good reason. You can follow your friends who are Twittering, use Twitter numerous ways in your business (more about this in a minute), and even search for other Twitterers using specific keywords. Last week, Publicity Hound Harry Hoover announced that he started compiling a list of Twittering journalists and media… Read More
What else should American have done after canceling flights?
Here’s the list of public relations tactics American Airlines adopted after canceling more than 3,000 flights this month: According to PRWeek, it: —Enlisted its seven-person PR team, other staffers and Weber Shandwick, its PR firm, to inform the public about the reasons for the delay. —Handed out press releases to customers at some of its largest hubs. —Sent… Read More
When Journalists Snub You
You pitch a story to a top-tier newspaper. The reporter calls you. You bend over backwards to help with the story. And when it’s finally printed, you’re crestfallen to learn that the reporter never even mentioned your name. The first time it happened to me, I wanted to call the reporter’s boss and complain. And… Read More
Journalists search LinkedIn for ideas, topics, trends—and dirt
If you have a profile on LinkedIn, don’t be surprised if a journalist calls and says she found you there. Could be she’s an investigative reporter who’s digging up dirt on your former employer. Or maybe she’s just looking for story ideas, did a search at the site and your profile popped up. Check out 10… Read More