Media Relations

‘Help a Reporter’ connects journalists, sources

If you’re hoping to connect with journalists and broadcasters who might interview you for a story, or include you in a TV show they’re planning, here’s another resource. It’s a website called “If I can Help a Reporter Out,” and it was created by Peter Shankman, owner of a New York PR firm. His many journalist… Read More

Pitch the Wire Services

One of the best ways to get your story into dozens, perhaps even hundreds of newspapers across the U.S.–all at the same time–is to pitch one of the wire services. The Associated Press, the world’s largest news agency, is a great place to start. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio… Read More

PR Web: Disband your Press Release Police

I’ve been a huge proponent of PRWeb, the press release distribution service, because of its great customer service and the rave reviews from publicists whose press releases get fabulous pick-up. But I don’t like what I’m hearing about the company’s Press Release Police who are hassling writers like BL Ochman, one of my favorite press release writers of all time, and award-winning publicist… Read More

Print a Reporter’s Face on Candy

Here’s another idea I suggested when I spoke on Saturday in Pittsburgh. Linda Roundtree, owner of Custom Chocolate Creations in suburban Pittsburgh, was in the audience. She can imprint someone’s photo or logo on a piece of chocolate, like the one you see at her website at http://tinyurl.com/2u8m7v On Saturday, she brought one piece of… Read More

‘Pink products’ media event helps you meet journalists

Do you have a “pink product” that supports breast cancer research and that you’d like journalists to see in time for their October 2008 coverage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month? The first “Think Pink Media Event” will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at the New York Marriott Marquis Times… Read More

Meet journalists at writers conference in April

Here’s a great tip for getting some face time with journalists, courtesy of Mitch Davis of Expertclick: The Online Yearbook of Experts. He’ll be at American Society of Journalists and Authors 2008 Writers Conference in New York, April 11-13. It’s a perfect venue to meet influential editors and writers. Set up near Mitch’s table and he’ll give you advice on… Read More

Ethics dispute blurs line between editorial, advertising

When I worked a newspaper editor 20 years ago, I would have been shocked to hear about a deal like this one between a hospital and a TV station. Today, however, it’s of little surprise. That’s because the line between editorial and advertising is blurred, and it’s getting fuzzier by the minute. WEAU TV-13 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin tried to… Read More

Video pitching will become overused

Thanks to Publicity Hound Laura Jackson for calling attention to the issue of video pitching—in other words, pitching a blogger by creating a clever video in which you are shown delivering the pitch. Blogger Jeremiah Owyang, a web strategist shown here, posted this item in which he raved about the clever video pitch from two authors who wanted… Read More

Another Way to Embarrass a Reporter

Publicity Hound Karen Pierce Gonzalez responded to last week’s item about the St. Louis politician who tried to embarrass a TV investigative reporter by answering the reporter’s question with comments about the reporter’s relationship with Jesus. He ended up embarrassing only himself. If you missed it, it’s the first item here: http://tinyurl.com/2uaubg Karen, who worked… Read More