When blogger Connie Bennett comes across an article on the dangers of sugar, she posts an item about it to her Sugar Shock! blog. She links to the article, then takes an extra little step that will generate publicity down the road. She emails the reporter who wrote the article and mentions that she linked… Read More
Media Relations
Travel writers complain about lazy PR people
For every PR person who grouses about a rude, inconsiderate journalist, there’s a journalist complaining about a lazy PR person. And the writers are sharing their gripes online. Thanks to Publicity Hound Lori Lisi of Joshua, Texas for pointing out this interesting thread at a discussion board for travel writers. Their gripes include PR people… Read More
Tip off reporters to blogs
Many of the great ideas you read about here come from the many Publicity Hounds who read this newsletter and my audiences who hear me speak. When I spoke recently to the Virginia chapter of the National Speakers Association, I picked up another great tip. It’s from Brian Kirwin, a consultant for Rourk Public Relations.… Read More
Voicemail messages that help the media
This morning I called someone and had to sit through a 45-second email message that about drove me nuts. If I had been a reporter calling her for an interview, I probably would have hung up and called someone else to interview. Here are three voicemail tips that will make it easy for the media… Read More
Tips for working with media photographers
I just received the latest issue of Marketer, the print magazine published for members of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. I’m a contributing writer, and my article on Page 17 offers great tips on how to work with photographers, excerpted from my ebook “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.” One… Read More
How to research reporters and other media contacts
As I was writing the previous tip about the “Coats for Kids” drive, I couldn’t remember all the details. So I Googled weatherman Vince Condella. Here’s what I learned about him within about 30 seconds: –He rides a Harley. –He’s a “Seinfeld” junkie. –He likes guitar music, quality coffee and ice hockey. –He was named… Read More
Piggyback off Media Charities
I never guarantee you’ll get publicity by following my tips. But this tip falls into the category of an “almost guarantee.” While watching the local FOX TV news recently, I saw a short news item about a group of first-graders at a Milwaukee elementary school. They were shown singing a song to the tune of… Read More
Dishing the dirt on Pantene bribing journalists
Back where I come from in the world of newspapers, an editor would practically pull off a reporter’s fingers, one by one with a pair of pliers—then fire the sinner—for accepting a can of caramel corn from a source who wanted to say “thanks” at Christmas. The caramel corn, and other gifts that came to… Read More
What do to when reporters won’t mention your name in an article
Here’s a common problem Publicity Hounds run into when they’re so eager for publicity that they’ll do almost anything for a journalist. Last week, a reader asked, “I spent a lot of time talking to a reporter and we really hit it off. But when she wrote the article, I was surprised to see she… Read More
How to Attract a Reporter’s Attention
Sponsoring an event? One of the best ways to generate publicity is to invite a reporter to participate in something that will result in a pre-event story. For example, if you’re sponsoring a hot-air balloon race, invite a reporter to take a hot-air balloon ride a week or two before your event, so she can… Read More