Several weeks ago, I posted an item about how January was a big month for fitness and weight loss stories, because people were trying to get back on track after the holidays.
The media’s love for these stories spills into February, one of three Sweeps months. Today, for example, “Oprah” is supposed to feature a woman who lost 50 pounds after, among other things, participating in Jazzercise classes. (My Jazzercise instructor said so yesterday.)
By now, most of us have broken our New Year’s resolutions to stop eating junk food and lose weight. Some of us paid for expensive fitness club memberships but seldom show up at class. Yet we’ll watch any program, read any article or listen to any talk show that offers even a sliver of hope that we can get back on track.
So keep pitching health and fitness stories in February. This is an ideal time, for example, for your company or organization to issue a challenge to another group or organization: see which group can walk the most miles or lose the most weight in the next 30 days. The media would love this story.
Pay attention to the covers of women’s magazines, in particular. This month, many of the headlines staring back at you are about losing weight.
So think about how you can tie into this hot topic—even if all you’re pitching is a stand-alone photo. In my ebook
“How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign,” I suggest calling the photo desk at your local newspaper if you have a great photo idea.
