After the terrible shooting in Orlando, gun control advocates were left, once again, with no news. With just four days left before Congress adjourned for the 4th of July recess, a bipartisan gun control proposal was set aside with no hope of passage. No news? No...
The New York Times, Vice and Mashable. In May, all three of these media groups announced planned staff changes to markedly scale back each of their newsrooms. The initial reaction on Twitter and elsewhere was the same doom-and-gloom declaration of the “death of...
What makes a story worthy of coverage, either as news or as a feature? Some developments are so big that we can all agree they belong on the front page—the Flint water crisis, problems with the Obamacare website, etc. Others exist on the margins, depending on a writer...
Sometimes, when I try to interview a journalist about their preferences for dealing with PR people, they boil it down to two simple pieces of advice—"Know what I cover and read my stories." That, and maybe, "Send me an email." Usually, it means they’re pressed for...
Given all the challenges in reaching out to journalists, it’s surprising how many organizations fall short when it comes to setting up their online newsrooms. If the journalist is coming to you, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get the information they’re...
Freelance writers provide an often-untapped opportunity to get coverage on websites and in a wide range of print media. But pitching them poses unique challenges—and based on my conversations with freelancers, this is a point that many PR pros seem to overlook. Some...
Media’s use of PR-generated sources continues to evolve, with traditional press releases now taking a back seat to more engaging multimedia content, a research from global comms agency TheNewsMarket finds. The firm asked journalists to rate different types of media...
You’ve pitched an expert to a top freelance writer on assignment for a big consumer magazine. They take you up on the offer, and the interview seems to go well. Your expert is psyched to see their name in print, and so are you. Then the issue comes out, you eagerly...
Given all the efforts by PR pros to get media coverage for their clients or organizations, it’s surprising what happens sometimes when journalists reach out for assistance. Phone calls aren’t returned, or if they are, the response is too slow to do the journalist any...
Asked about their pet peeves concerning PR, some journalists point to specific terms in pitches and press releases that raise red flags or are just plain annoying. For example, if you want to aggravate medical reporters, try sprinkling your emails with "cure,"...
Drawing parallels between professionals in PR, marketing, and sales is easy. After all, there are many similar techniques, tactics, and tools used between the three disciplines. But there’s one tool every sales professional can’t live without that very few PR,...
Journalists say it again and again—the most effective PR pros are the ones with whom they’ve established long-term relationships. The trick, of course, is establishing those relationships in the first place. What’s the magic formula that makes them happen? I wouldn’t...