The spring’s unseasonably cold weather here in Wisconsin–complete with wool socks, furnaces at full blast and hot soup for lunch–is a good reminder about one of the easiest ways to gerate publcity–by piggybacking your story idea off the weather. After sweating through a week of 100-degree temperatures a few summers ago, Publicity Hound John Landsberg… Read More
Media Relations
How to find magazines’ special issues
Here’s another resource for trade magazines and special sections being planned by consumer and business publications. Check out Special Issues, an online database of editorial calendars, special issues and content “mined” from trade and industrial magazine websites. Examples of special issues include industry outlooks, overviews, surveys, statistical issues, company ranking lists, buyers guides, salary surveys,… Read More
How to complain if you suspect media bias
What should you do if you suspect that a journalist is giving your story unfair or biased treatment? If you think a reporter is ignoring your story or giving it unfair treatment because it appeals to a conservative audience, and the reporter is a liberal, or vice versa, don’t just sit by and accept it.… Read More
Ask for corrections as soon as errors appear
If you don’t correct errors in the newspaper, they have a way of reapperaing. For example, last summer, my morning newspaper included a correction, buried at the bottom of Page 2. It took up less than 2 inches of space. CORRECTION An article Aug. 14 about residents of Haven greeting visitors arriving for the PGA… Read More
Help weeklies cover sports
If your daughter plays on the junior high soccer team, but your local weekly newspaper acts like the team doesn’t exist, quit grumbling and find a notebook and a pen. If your son participates in ice skating competitions, but the team has never had its photo in the paper, get a camera and learn how… Read More
Ask a business journal to co-sponsor your event
Let’s pretend you have $10,000 to spend promoting your organization. You have two choices. Buy an ad in the local daily newspaper. Or co-sponsor one of several events hosted by the local business journal. Which would you choose? Paul Furiga says the decision is easy. If you want to get in front of a business… Read More
Take a reporter to lunch
One way for Publicity Hounds to form relationships with media contacts is to take them to lunch. If you’ve never done this before, it can sound daunting and maybe even downright dangerous. What if you say something stupid? What if you end up with a piece of spinach on your front tooth? What if the… Read More
Don’t be a bodyguard
If you do PR for your company or organization, one of the best things you can do to get in the media’s good graces is to encourage media people to contact your CEO or other sources directly, without demanding that they go through you. Also, don’t act like a bodyguard, shielding Mr. or Ms. Important… Read More
The difference between journalists and bloggers
Many PR people have added bloggers to their media contact lists–and for good reason. Bloggers are making a name for themselves as legitimate news breakers, commentators and opinion-shapers. If you’re pitching your story to bloggers, you must understand the difference between a “real” journalist and a blogger. Journalists understand lingo such as exclusives, embargoes and… Read More
Is your website ready to welcome journalists?
Right now, as you’re reading this, a journalist could be nosing around at your website, looking for clues that will help determine whether you’re worth covering. Will the reporter find typos galore, outdated news releases or incomplete contact information? PR pro Carolyn Moncel said there’s a checklist of items you should have at your website–things… Read More