Today's Wall Street Journal has a great section titled "how Old Media Can Survive in a New World." It's loaded with tips from experts on how the traditional newspaper, television, music and advertising industries can survive. The section is worth keeping. Some of the tips will probably come to pass. And it will help you understand the direction … [Read more...]
Clear pronunciation needed for a stint on NPR
Among the most loyal listeners of National Public Radio--ready for this?--are taxi cab drivers in Washington, D.C. and probably those elsewhere through the United States. Many listeners who are non-English speaking immigrants say that NPR and public radio in general give them the best information and the clearest diction on American radio. They … [Read more...]
Why food bribes work with broadcast media
The Milwaukee Brewers are off to a good start this year--yet another reminder of how using food to entice reproters to cover your story works. While Harley-Davidson was welcoming several hundred thousand bikers at its giant 100th anniversary reunion in Milwaukee several years ago, popular afternoon drive-time talk show host Mark Belling opened … [Read more...]
Please, no boring press conferences
Why do I call them boring news conferences? Because during my 22 years as a newspaper reporter and editor, I can't remember attending one news conference that wasn't a waste of time. Once, when I worked as an editor, I remember getting a call from a PR guy who screamed at me over the phone because no one from my newspaper or any other media … [Read more...]
Build relationships with reporters
Get to know reporters who you want to cover you, and start building relationships. But how do you start building relationships with someone you don't know, particularly a reporter who is pitched dozens of times a day? Take a tip from Jeffrey O'Brien, senior editor at Wired magazine. "We love to talk about our work," he said. "On a very rare … [Read more...]
Don’t offer exclusivity for special event photos
If the situation warrants it, some Publicity Hounds like to give a particular story to their favorite media that reaches a large audience. If a certain newspaper or magazine knows they will get the story first, they will be more inclined to cover you--as long as it's a good story. With photos, however, that isn't necessarily the case. When … [Read more...]
Follow the clues
When you listen to your favorite radio talk show, do you listen with only one ear, oblivious to all the little clues the hosts or the drive-time deejays are dropping about their likes and dislikes, hobbies, friends and family members, and other topics that will catch their attention in your pitch letters and phone calls? Publicity Hound Carol … [Read more...]
These email faux pas show you’re clueless
Some time ago I wrote about nerdy websites. If you email anything to the media, make sure you aren't guilty of these nerdy email blunders: --A subject line that says "News Release" with no clue what the release is about. --A generic greeting such as "Dear Editor." Always use the editor's name. If you don't know it, don't send it. --Subject lines … [Read more...]
12 worst mistakes PR people make
It was difficult to pare them down to a dozen, but we did. Of all the mistakes PR people make when working with the media, Jon Greer of Bulldog Reporter's PR University and Liz Miklya of Weber Shandwick joined me in whittling down the list to 12. We presented them the Media Relations 2005 conference earlier this month in San Francisco. Here's our … [Read more...]
Don’t blame the reporter for inaccuracies; check first
Reporters get blamed enough for inaccuracies in news stories--sometimes rightly so.
Most Publicity Hounds don't know, however, that mistakes in print and broadcast stories are often caused by other people in the newsroom. So if you don't like what you see, don't call the reporter and start screaming into the phone. Find out who committed … [Read more...]
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