Every year since 2001, Rebecca Morgan and her cadre of volunteers have been going into the Willow Glen neighborhood in San Jose, Calif., just before Halloween and encouraging readers to give 6,500 of their “gently read” books to children in place of trick-or-treat candy. “Books feed children’s minds, while candy only feeds their cavities,” says… Read More
Pitching
How do you pitch a story on washable mats?
Jeanne Krieg of Savage, Minnesota writes: “DryMate is a manufacturer in Minnesota with a line of absorbent and washable mats for home, pets, autos, hunting, garage and outdoors. We even sell a mat that goes under your Christmas tree stand to catch spills, dirt etc. “Since our product is made from a fabric with a bonded… Read More
Oprah’s producers blog & drop clues about what they like
If you’re dying to get onto Oprah, stop sending unsolicited books, press kits and other junk. Instead, spend some time reading the blog posts from the show’s 14 producers. Yes, they blog. Is it OK to contact them? You bet! Check out the invitation: If you read just one week’s worth of posts from producer “Caroline,”… Read More
Learn how to pronounce names of radio/TV hosts, journalists
With so many international reporters and editors, TV producers and radio show hosts, it’s more important than ever that you pronounce their names correctly, particularly if you are appearing on their shows or pitching them by phone. Ditto for potential clients and bosses, or for audience members who you call on from the platform if you’re a speaker… Read More
Book on PR/social media perfect for wanna-be publicists
Occasionally, I’ll get a call from somebody who thinks it might be “fun and interesting” to be in the world of PR, or a publicist. But they don’t want to go back to college and spend more than $50,000 on a degree in PR or communications. So they ask me what the best way is to break into… Read More
NPR host says pitch your idea to one show at a time
National Public Radio, with its hundreds of shows, offers opportunities galore for people to pitch a story about their product, service, cause or issue. But here’s an important caveat: Don’t pitch to more than one show at the same time. That was one of several tips from (Ms.) Alex Cohen, a reporter and local host for… Read More
Gift List offers 25 percent discount until Sept. 30
If you sell a consumer product or service that would make a great gift for the holidays, this is the perfect time to take advantage of a 25 percent discount to The Gift List, a subscription service that provides pitching tips and contact information for hundreds of media outlets that are planning special gift coverage. “This year… Read More
Sept. 11 deadline looming for O Magazine pitches
Sept. 11 is the deadline for pitching your business woman’s success story, or your tips for women, for a special round-up of story ideas that will be presented to O Magazine editors and other top-tier media. Publicists for PitchRate.com, which connects journalists with people seeking publicity, will take the best 10 to 20 pitches and present… Read More
National Publicity Summit expected to sell out soon
The National Publicity Summit, the event that lets authors, speakers and experts pitch top-tier media outlets, is expected to close registration within the next week or two. It will take place Oct. 21-24 in New York City. Only 100 people will be chosen to attend. Steve Harrison and his staff provide training, pitching tips and even dress rehearsals for… Read More
Author needs a good ‘hook’ so she can repitch Oprah
Jennifer Louden of Bainbridge Island, Wa. writes: “I’m a best-selling author and my last book, The Life Organizer: A Woman’s Guide to a Mindful Year, got a call back from an Oprah producer in March 2007. They called us saying, ‘We love the book but don’t know how to use it. We will be in touch.’ “Nothing since,… Read More