When you write a news release, do you write different versions of the same release—emphasizing different things in the first paragraph—depending on what media outlet you’re sending it to? Smart Publicity Hounds do. They want every media person to read their releases and say, “Aha! This is perfect for our audience!” Yet too few people… Read More
Media Relations
Don’t make these mistakes with follow-up calls to the media
Big PR agencies seem to be the worst offenders when it comes to following up on news releases. They usually assign a woman who sounds like an 18-year-old twinkie to call reporters and editors after the agency has mailed a release. The twinkie, usually using an annoying sing-songy voice, says: “Hi. This is Brittany. I’m… Read More
Hold off on non-hurricane news
If you’re planning to pitch a news story like a new product announcement, or an upcoming event or whatever to the national media , hold off a week or two. Media everywhere are concentrating on the newest developments from Hurricane Katrina, from the horrible looting and shooting in New Orleans to the effects on local… Read More
How to find a reporter’s hot button
One of the best ways to generate publicity for a product, service, cause or issue is to find a reporter who has experienced a problem that’s related to the story you want to pitch. It’s called finding a reporter’s hot button and sometimes it happens purely by accident. Publicity Hound Carol Adams of Charlotte, North… Read More
Stop calling news conferences
A reader wrote this week and asked: “We are looking for some advice on when to send a media notice to our contacts announcing a press conference. A week prior to the press conference? Two days? Or is it best to hit them a couple of times?” The Publicity Hound says: Why do you think… Read More
Find your way into weather stories
The 10 tomato plants in our garden, including two heirloom tomato plants, are wilting. And the basil just sits there looking helpless. If this newsletter is late today, it’s because I’ve been in the garden for the last several days giving a hearty drink to the green beans, beets, carrots, radishes, peas, spinach and three… Read More
L.A. Times changes editorial pages
The L.A. Times, in yesterday’s editions, announced a variety of changes to its editorial pages. Next week, it will announce the introduction of “wikitorials” — an online feature that will let readers rewrite Los Angeles Times editorials. Letters to the editor and opinion columns are a terrific way to promote your product, service, cause or… Read More
How PR people can help Capitol Hill reporters
Gwyneth Shaw, the Baltimore Sun’s Capitol Hill correspondent, is always on the lookout for a new angle on legislation or a study. In this article by PR newswire, she offers tips on how the public relations community can provide useful content for reporters like her by offering timely studies or experts.
Contact info for L.A. radio stations
If you want to get booked as a guest on a Los Angeles radio station, check out LARadio.com, a subscription site that gives you access to news about L.A. radio stations, behind-the-scenes bulletins and breaking news, night-before headlines delivered to your email box, more than eight years of archived columns, more than 1,000 email addresses… Read More
Every author should hear this media panel
If you’re going to New York City next week for the BookExpo America convention, don’t miss Steve Harrison’s media panel on Saturday. I’ll be there. I attended this last year when it was part of the convention, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. A panel of top-tier print and broadcast journalists… Read More