Issue #1233 June 19, 2018
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- This Brick Wall Can Stunt Your Publicity
- A New News Source in Colorado
- Deadline Tonight for Ghostwriting
- Hound Video of the Week
This Week in the Hound House:
I always have a bad reaction to flea and ant bites. Two weeks ago, I was attacked by pavement ants while weeding and got 16 bites on my right arm. They itched like crazy and scabbed over. My friend applied Bag Balm and wrapped my arm in an ace bandage. Within two days, you could barely see any traces of bites. The ointment was originally designed to soften and protect cow udders. It’s also used to heal scrapes and abrasions on livestock to prevent infection. Who knew?
1. This Brick Wall Can Stunt Your Publicity
You’ve been dying to get into the Wall Street Journal.
After months of emailing back and forth with a reporter, she finally calls you for an interview. The newspaper prints the article, and you’re ecstatic.
You can hardly wait to tell your clients. You can even link to the article from your website. Won’t visitors be impressed?
Not if they can’t read it because it’s hidden behind a paywall and they must buy a monthly subscription to gain access. An increasing number of publications are erecting paywalls to boost revenue. Those include the Chicago Sun-Times, Wired, Vanity Fair and the Atlantic. CNN and Business Insider are next. Many smaller publications such as local business journals already gate some of their content.
Journalists hate this because they want readers to share their work. What should you do if this happens to you?
- Ask the reporter to send you a PDF of the article so you can see it. But do not publish it at your website because the publication owns the copyright.
- If you’re a PR person, show your client the PDF but tell them not to share it.
- If you must buy a PDF, do so. But the same copyright restrictions apply.
- If you work in PR, let your client know up front about paywalls before you pitch so they aren’t surprised later.
To do: Read more about paywalls in the article, “How the paywall craze presents a new challenge for PR pros.”
#Paywalls #PaidContent
2. New Online News Source in Colorado
Top reporters and editors who were laid off from The Denver Post, or quit, are starting a new online publication called The Colorado Sun that’s expected to launch in July or August.
The digital-only publication will feature in-depth news and long-form stories. The start-up venture has two years worth of blockchain funding from venture capitalists.
A group called Civil wants to use The Colorado Sun to test a system for sustaining journalism. It uses virtual tokens as a stake in ownership, similar to shares in a company. The Sun will be journalist-owned, but readers can buy tokens in the wider Civil community of publications to financially support and influence what is covered. The tokens could become more valuable as the news sites become profitable.
Subscribers can pay a small monthly fee via credit card and, if they like what they see, donate more money.
I’d be surprised if this lasts beyond two years. But give them credit for trying.
To do: Read more in the article “The Colorado Sun To Launch with Former Denver Post ‘A-Team’ Stars and Tech Cash.” Thanks to book shepherd Judith Briles for this tip.
#ColoradoMedia #Journalism
3. Deadline Tonight for Ghostwriting
A few spots are still open for the Introduction to Ghostwriting online course that starts tomorrow through California State University Long Beach.
It’s for freelancers, authors, corporate writers and others who want to add ghostwriting to their services. The six-week course runs from June 20 to July 25. It’s a pre-requisite for the 10-month full masters-level program Aug. 22-May 29, taught by Claudia Suzanne.
Students can watch weekly video lessons on their own and then participate in live Q&A sessions with Claudia Suzanne, the instructor who has ghostwritten more than 175 books. If you’re going on vacation this month or next, you can still sign up and participate as long as you complete all your assignments by Aug. 15. You can review the recorded Q&A sessions when you return.
This course and masters-level program are ideal for Freelancers, authors, corporate writers and others who want to add ghostwriting to their services.
To do: If you missed the free training I offered last week with Claudia, watch the video replay of “Ghostwriting, How to Learn It, Do It & Retire Happy–2018 Update.” Or go directly to the registration page for the introductory course and use coupon code JS2018 to get a discount of $57.50. Please let me know if you have trouble registering.
#Ghostwriting #Ghostwriters
4. Hound Video of the Week
If you’ve ever traveled with more than one dog in the car, you’ll be astonished at how polite these five dogs are when they exit the back of the car.
[Tweet “#PublicityTips — This Brick Wall Can Stunt Your Publicity #Paywalls #Journalism”]
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