Debra Blackmon of Bakersfield, California writes: “This morning, a popular local radio host blasted the inclusion of Feng Shui workshops at our local community center this summer. “The reason? Feng Shui is a religion and non-Christian and shouldn’t be taught at the community forum. I’m the instructor of the workshop (and a Christian). I want to… Read More
Pitching
Katrina first anniversary means publicity opportunity
Tom Warneka of Cleveland, Ohio writes: “I spent two weeks in southern Mississippi last fall as a mental health worker with the Red Cross. We’re quickly coming up the first anniversary on August 29 of Hurricane Katrina. “As a way of promoting my book ‘Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing… Read More
Child abuse stories can make it onto TV with creative pitches
My friend, TV reporter Shawne Duperon, has fabulous ideas on how to get TV people interested in your story. In her ezine this week, she featured the following question from Chris Jamieson of the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect: “I work in the child abuse prevention field. Typically, these stories only hold water with the… Read More
Radio, TV talk shows need emergency guests
If you’ve been a guest on a TV or radio show and you’d love to make a return visit this summer, here’s a quick way to get the producer’s attention. Offer to fill in if a guest cancels or runs into travel problems. Radio and TV talk show hosts dread having to fill an entire hour… Read More
Cosmetic surgery pitches don’t need a tie-in to celebrities
Pitching a story about cosmetic surgery? If so, you no longer need to tie it to a celebrity, says the may 15 issue of PR Week. Coverage on all types of procedures, including nose jobs, skin peels, tummy tucks and breast augmentation has become mainstream. The media are also devoting more coverage to things like hair… Read More
Trade press editors know what they want, so follow these 10 tips
If you’re pitching the trade press, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is telling an editor that you just bought an ad. Most reputable trade press editors don’t care, and like their brothers and sisters at consumer magazines and newspapers, they will be insulted that you mentioned it. That’s one of 10 tips offered… Read More
Ladies’ Home Journal editor offers pitching tips
If you’re pitching the Ladies’ Home Journal, adhere to its three-month lead time. So says Julia Kagan, the health director at the magazine, whose pitching tips were featured in an article at the Media Insider blog. Other things you should know: The magazine prefers news tips, not how-to news. Most readers don’t have young… Read More
Tips booklets: Perfect marketing tool in a crowded market
Paulette Ensign, the Tips Booklet Queen, makes a great suggestion for Realtors, mortgage brokers and others who work in crowded markets, particularly where business is slowing right about now. Market yourself with an informational tips booklet—your own booklet or somebody else’s. Paulette, for example, published the booklet “110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life.” It has sold… Read More
Airline magazines rely on freelancers–so pitch them
If you want to get publicity in one of the inflight magazines, you should cozy up to freelancers who write for those publications. That’s one of several tips in the May 1 issue of PR Week. The article says freelancers tend to be more responsive and a slightly easier pitch than, say, high-end travel magazines,… Read More
Writing a White Paper easier than it used to be
You? Write a White Paper? A long, boring treatise that lands like a thud when you plop it on your desk? A thick report stuffed with pie charts, bar charts, graphs and industry lingo? Just the sound of it can trigger nightmares about your days writing high school term papers. Why would you want to write… Read More