Of all the possible mistakes you can make when interviewing with the media, the worst one in my book is lying. Bend the truth, even just a little, and that little white lie can suddenly become the story and have far more traction than the original story you were being interviewed for. Remember Watergate? And… Read More
Publicist
When doctors shill for pharmas, what’s a PR person to do?
Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, writes: Periodically, in response to a request, I’ll get a quote from a doctor (via a publicist) that mentions a specific product. Inevitably, I Google the doctor and he or she has been or is on the payroll for the folks who make the product. There’s no mention… Read More
Publicists needs ideas for Christmas, cookbook promotions
Tracy Arceo of Pelican Publishing of Gretna, LA writes: “I am a publicist for Pelican Publishing Company. The publicists have been presented with a challenge and we’re having trouble comping up with ideas. “Our company has two rather large series of books. One series is based on the classic children’s poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” each… Read More
NPR Books Watch Contest goal: Get more authors on NPR
When National Public Radio interviews an author, it’s almost a ticket to the top of the Amazon.com lists. But the way book publicist Yen Cheong calculates it, the chances of an author landing an interview on National Public Radio is 15 times harder than getting into Harvard. Cheong, the assistant director of publicity for Viking and Penguin Books in… Read More
Teleseminars will teach radio, TV publicity tips
If you’re aching to get onto radio and TV, check out the five free teleseminars offered the last week in May by Web Business Ownership, devoted to teaching small business owners and entrepreneurs how to set up an Internet business. You can register here for Media Week 2008: Sunday, May 25: “Small Business Meets Big Media.” J. Roger Powe of NBC… Read More
‘The Takeaway’ competes with ‘Morning Edition’ on NPR
Publicity Hounds, you have a new program on National Public Radio to add to your publicity toolbox. It’s called “The Takeaway,” a rival to “The Morning Edition.” It’s a chatty, less-formal, more interactive program that launched yesterday on PBS in New York, Boston, Baltimore and several smaller cities. Hosted by John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji, the… Read More
Publicity plan should target blogs and ezines
Don’t miss this critical step when creating your publicity plan. Start adding bloggers and editors of electronic newsletters (ezines) to the list of people who you will contact if you want publicity. If you’re a publicist, and your PR client is adamant about getting coverage in top-tier media like USA Today, The New York Times,… Read More
Goodie bag, promo opps listed at ProfNet blog
Authors, have you written a book that would be the perfect goodie bag item for a man or woman who has just gone through a divorce and will be attending a divorce party April 4 in Fort Lauderdale? Publicists or celebrity agents, do you have an up-and-coming young female celebrity client to endorse and be actively involved with a tween… Read More
How can publicists promote a book about identical twins?
Publicity Hound Sharon Dotson of Houston, Texas writes: “I am working with two other publicists to promote identical twins Anabel Stenzel and Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, 35, of Redwood City, CA, who between them have survived three lung transplants. “Half Japanese and half-German, the sisters were born with cystic fibrosis and were not expected to live… Read More
Pitching online newspapers worth your time
Many publicists pay more attention to pitching reporters at print publications like daily newspapers, and less time pitching reporters who write for the online versions. Here are four reasons why that’s a mistake: 1. Newspapers are continuing to tighten their print publications because of the high cost of newsprint. 2. Some smaller daily papers are… Read More