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...
I began my career in television, which lent itself to the near-decade I would later spend as a media spokesperson for several very large energy companies. During that period, depending on the day, I could be speaking to reporters on issues as mundane as a random power...
Longtime pitching guru Shelly Gordon, principal of G2 Communications and a workshop leader for a training company called WriteCulture, has witnessed the arrival of Twitter and the swan song of the press tour. Now, she’s embracing the 140-character landscape by doing...
I like to write and I like to eat. As a result of these two interests, I’ve been blogging about dining out and cooking since 2009. Because of that, pitches from fellow PR folks often land in my inbox. When I receive good pitches that align with my interests, I try to...
Given a choice, most journalists would rather receive a tailored, personalized pitch instead of a press release sent to large distribution list. But when faced with the prospect of reaching hundreds of journalists, many PR agencies resort to "faux...
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,"...
For many of us who check email from our beds, the grocery store and our kids’ soccer games, inbox addiction is very real. In today’s mobile world, we rely on our inboxes to keep us informed, entertained and connected. Email even keeps us tethered to the office and...
Journalists, especially at the A-list outlets, are a competitive bunch. They live for the scoop, the exclusive, or at a minimum, the unique angle on a widely reported story. Based on feedback we've heard from journalists, this point seems to be lost by a certain...
Media relations is only one piece of the public relations pie—strategy, planning, research, content, writing, social media, events, activations, monitoring and reporting fill up much of the rest. However, one of the main reasons PR professionals are hired is for media...
When you’re a small company trying to get into the news, media placements are really just a numbers game. At some point, you can even start to predict how many pitches it will take per hit. If one in every 20 reporters finds your story compelling, but you know you...
Would you like more bloggers to say “Yes!” to your pitches? These four tips will help increase your rate of success. 1. All Bloggers Are Not Equal Some blogs are written just for fun, while others are the blogger’s primary source of income. The blogger who blogs for...