Tips, Tricks & Tools for Free Publicity
by Joan Stewart
Night after night, we see stories on the local and national TV news about topics like obesity, alcoholism, drug abuse and mental illness.
The reporter's narration accompanies generic film footage of people walking on a crowded sidewalk, or students making their way to class on a college campus.
No problem--except if the story happens … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
Publicity Hounds spend so much time and energy chasing after staff writers at national magazines, that they often overlook a much more valuable group of contacts--the freelancers that write for those publications.
Why are freelancers more valuable? Because many of them already have key contacts at lots of major magazines and newspapers. … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
I've received so much great feedback from Publicity Hounds who have used my tip about "TV Weatherperson's Day" on February 5 that I'm mentioning itagain.
When it comes to celebrity status, the TV weather people are at the bottom of the totem pole. While the news anchor is invited to host a glitzy charity ball, the weather guy is asked to … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
When I worked as a newspaper editor for more than 20 years, I had my own pet peeves about people who were clueless about working with the media. They included: --Idiots who called to complain, "You've written about my competitor three times but you've never written about me!" --News releases that didn't list the name or phone number of a … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
Beth Ann Black of Coppell, Texas has a client, a large group of specialty veterinarians--all for animals--that will celebrate their fifth anniversary this spring. She wants fun promotional ideas, beyond the one they've already thought of: hosting an open house where current and potential clients bring teddy bears to be examined so the doctors … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
In my workshop “Hey Boss, Mike Wallace is on Line 2,” I share a sneaky tip about how to do background checks on reporters.
Not the kind that will tell you whether they’ve been picked up for drunken driving or filed for bankruptcy. Rather, the kind that will help you determine … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
It was a night of swashbuckling fun, complete with a pirate treasure game, foods of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, and even a special "Pirate's Pleasure" drink made with Goldschlager, triple sec and rum.
It was The Business Journal's annual Book of Lists bash at a downtown Milwaukee hotel on January 20, in honor of the several … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
Newspapers have tried a variety of tactics over the last 20 years to reverse those sliding circulation figures. They're writing shorter stories, using more color and graphics, and placing a greater emphasis on local news. But few of those tricks seem to be doing much good.
The News & Record, a daily newspaper in Greensboro, North … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
Inexperienced Publicity Hounds make the frequent mistake of inundating media people with too much information. For example:
--Sending an unsolicited media kit along with a pitch letter, with grand illusions of the journalist spending hours poring over your materials. (Dream on).
--Sending an unsolicited book, with hopes that a … [Read more...]
by Joan Stewart
At least once a week, somebody emails me and asks if I can recommend a good publicist.
Sure, I could. But usually, I don't. That's because you need to consider dozens of factors before hiring one.
--How much money can you spend?
--Do you want to get into only big national media, or do you want publicity in your own … [Read more...]
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