It's too late for most of you to get into the news today by using a Valentine's Day pitch, but remind yourself to start pitching Valentine's Day ideas early enough next year. Here are some creative ways others have piggybacked onto Valentine's Day: ---Friday's [Read more...]
What to do when you pitch a story idea, the reporter stalls and won’t cover it
A publicist emailed me last week, asking my advice on this dilemma. She pitched a story about her client, whose company is the local angle to a major national business story. A reporter from a big newspaper (one that most Publicity Hounds would give their right paws to get into), bit on the idea in November and asked for exclusivity. But the … [Read more...]
Dateline’s troubling predator program begs for comment, follow-up
After watching "To Catch a Predator" on NBC's "Dateline" Friday night, I was so upset I could hardly sleep. It was the third installment of a show that illustrates a growing and horrific epidemic in the U.S.---grown … [Read more...]
8 things that are not newsworthy, so don’t bother pitching them
Lisa Manyon, who is developing a series of classes for small-business owners through the Idaho Small Business Development Center, including a segment on free publicity, asked me to explain the difference between events that are newsworthy and those that aren't. If you follow my tips, you already know what most of them are---everything from trends … [Read more...]
How to piggyback onto the “Million Little Pieces” controversy
Good for Oprah for finally admitting she was wrong and standing up to James Frey, the author who embarrassed her by fabricating parts of his book "A Million Little Pieces," the story of his recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. The book zoomed to top of the best-seller's list and sold 3.5 million copies after she chose it for her [Read more...]
Critique the president’s State of the Union address
OK, all you speech coaches. This is the night you've been waiting for, so don't blow it. President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address to Congress and people all across America at 9 PM Eastern Time. But this is YOUR night to shine, speech coaches. That's because if you're smart, you'll offer to critique his performance for your local … [Read more...]
Crain’s Chicago editor offers tips on how to get into his paper
I swear I'm not making this up. PR people actually call newspapers and ask journalists, "Can you help me get a client into your paper?" As in, "My butt's in a sling, and I need a media hit---fast!" As in, "I can't convince anybody else to write about this guy. Do you mind if we waste your time?" As in, "I don't care what you write. Just write … [Read more...]
Pitch story ideas tied to retirement and living longer
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal includes an excellent special section on retirement planning, living to a ripe old age, and the demands that longevity places on finances and personal ties. "Think you'll make it to your 100th birthday? Don't answer too quickly," says editor Glenn … [Read more...]
New to publicity? Start at bottom of media ladder
When someone who has never gotten publicity tells me they want to get onto "Oprah," or onto the front page of The Wall Street Journal, I tell them they're in for a rude awakening. "Do you really wnat to make all your mistakes on America's Number One daytime talk show?" I ask. If you want publicity in major media, you must get experience at a … [Read more...]
TV Weatherpersons Day is February 5
You can score a great publicity hit if you tie into TV Weatherpersons Day on February 5, which this year also happens to be Super Bowl Sunday. I've been preaching about this for years because so many Publicity Hounds have told me it works. A few days before February 5, send your local TV weatherperson who will be on camera that day something that … [Read more...]
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