Media Relations

The Business Journal’s Book of Lists party

It was a night of swashbuckling fun, complete with a pirate treasure game, foods of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, and even a special “Pirate’s Pleasure” drink made with Goldschlager, triple sec and rum. It was The Business Journal’s annual Book of Lists bash at a downtown Milwaukee hotel on January 20, in honor of… Read More

Good news for newspaper readers

Newspapers have tried a variety of tactics over the last 20 years to reverse those sliding circulation figures. They’re writing shorter stories, using more color and graphics, and placing a greater emphasis on local news. But few of those tricks seem to be doing much good. The News & Record, a daily newspaper in Greensboro,… Read More

Less is more when contacting the media

Inexperienced Publicity Hounds make the frequent mistake of inundating media people with too much information. For example: –Sending an unsolicited media kit along with a pitch letter, with grand illusions of the journalist spending hours poring over your materials. (Dream on). –Sending an unsolicited book, with hopes that a radio talk show host will find… Read More

Things to consider when hiring a publicist

At least once a week, somebody emails me and asks if I can recommend a good publicist. Sure, I could. But usually, I don’t. That’s because you need to consider dozens of factors before hiring one. –How much money can you spend? –Do you want to get into only big national media, or do you… Read More

Congratulate journalists

From now until June, you’ll be seeing articles about journalists whose newspapers, magazines, TV stations and radio stations have won industry awards. The American Society of Newspaper Editors, for example, announced its 2005 winners recently. Why is this important to Publicity Hounds? Because these awards are important to journalists. And if one of the award-winners… Read More

Beware of the confidante

File this under the category of tricks reporters use to loosen your lips. I’m speaking specifically about the reporter who acts like a confidante–a trusted friend who is standing by ready to hear about your problems, and then commiserate. Here are phrases they might use: "Don’t you think it’s terrible that…" "I don’t think it’s… Read More

Create fun for reporters

Opening a new pizza shop? Invite a reporter to the shop so the client can teach her how to make a pizza. Tell her she’ll even learn how to twirl the dough around on her fist, then throw it up in the air and catch it. Opening a hardware store? Invite a reporter to a… Read More