A New York publicist mails a client’s book to a reporter across the country. The package includes a slick brochure. The reporter recognizes the publicist’s name but doesn’t recall her giving him a heads up the book was on its way. He flips through the book, stops momentarily to check out some bullet points on […]
Judging a PR Pro by a Cover Read More »
Someone in PR pitches what she describes as a national story to a reporter. The reporter gets “first dibs.” In the first paragraph, she explains why the story is relevant to the reporter’s city. She acknowledges a local journal already published the story and sends him a link to it. She lists video and interview
My mother-in-law, a freelance journalist and journalism teacher (most recently at Arizona State University), has never felt totally comfortable with modern TV news. She reminisces of the Cronkite days when the meaning of objectivity was not debatable. Today’s walking and talking reporters and blurred line between journalism and opinionated TV talk shows make her shake
More time for your clients on TV! Read More »
A PR executive emails a reporter, asking if he is aware of a dispute between a city manager and city employees. People have been laid off. Questions are being raised about financial decisions. Public safety might be at risk. The PR pro sends along a press release and says she can put the reporter in touch with the right
Getting To First Base PR Style Read More »
Persuading the media to cover your client shouldn’t be like throwing darts and hoping one sticks. Decide what type of coverage you want. Do you want a general assignment (GA) reporter? Your exposure may be brief, but it will air that very day. That’s good news for a time sensitive event. And with GA stories,
Choose a reporter wisely Read More »
I’m posting a blog the other day. That’s tricky business when a good night’s sleep is only a dream. When you’re tired, catching typos and extra spaces is not a sure thing. While posting, my three year old is on repeat mode, saying over and over she wants help building a tower with blocks. My
I’m building both a business and a tower Read More »
Someone in PR sends a reporter an email pitch and the subject includes this: “Please take my pitches!!!” The email includes phrases such as: “THIS IS HUGE FOR ME PLEASE?” and “THIS IS A HUGE CLIENT, TOO!! PLEASE?!!!!” The email includes the word “please” eight times. This is not unheard of. Someone on a local
I Love It When You Beg Read More »
The judge’s decision on Arizona’s new immigration law came down Wednesday. About an hour later, a woman emailed reporters, saying she had an expert for comment. She included background on her client and pasted an Associated Press article about the judge’s decision. She was quick, to the point and appeared to be successfully courting the
When Romancing The Media, Don’t Forget The Foreplay Read More »
In the early morning hours of July 5, people in a Phoenix neighborhood began calling 911. They witnessed several kids lighting grass and trees on fire. All within an hour, more than 100 fire fighters found themselves putting out flames at several hot spots in the same neighborhood. On fire: a vacant apartment building, a
Where There’s Fire, There’s Opportunity Read More »
The reporter, photographer, PR person and client met in a standard company office. The reporter asked questions and got a stronger grasp of the story. But the photographer didn’t shoot a thing. He stood there, balancing himself on the tripod. The real story was across the street: the factory. Men were loading trucks. Women were
How Pictures Make Your Media Pitches Better Read More »
