Tag Archives: media relations

3 `always’ & 3 `never’ tips heading into your next media interview

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine who is opening a restaurant had a nice problem on his hands. The nice part: a local newspaper reporter had arranged to interview him about the new venture. The problem part: my friend was a rookie when it comes to dealing with the media, and didn’t know what […]

Resist Tunnel Vision About Your Value, Heed Market Feedback & Turn Failure into Success

In today’s rapidly shifting strategic marketing and public relations landscape, being willing to change is only one part of the equation. You’ve also got to be continually alert to those ways in which you must embrace change–or invite extinction. That truth comes to mind as 2010 draws to a close and I reflect on what was […]

How ‘why?’ can inject life into your next news release

We’ve all heard the expression of “raining cats and dogs.” In the arena of news releases, however, there is an all-too-common experience: yawning cats and dogs. That’s an expression for the lifeless, bland collections of words that do a disservice to the word “news.” This came to mind a few weeks ago, when a college […]

The Web: A Key, Free Promotional Platform

“What do you get when you mix an acupuncturist, a chiropractor and a massage therapist? On Tuesday, Oct. 13, it will be a holistic workshop called “The Secret to Symptom-Free Menopause.” Three holistic healthcare professionals will teach how women can slow the aging process as they reduce—and in some cases, prevent—menopausal symptoms.” That’s how I […]

PR As Hoops: Following Your Own Shot

Playing basketball over the years, I’ve been pretty adept at offensive rebounding, even if I was no Dennis Rodman (pictured). Often, it’s because I’ve known better than anyone else on the court exactly how that shot I just took was going to careen wildly off the rim. I try to adopt the same mindset in […]

The Art of Contacting Reporters By Phone

For the first time over a six-month span, encompassing story pitches for four different clients, I reached one particular reporter yesterday at the Chicago Sun-Times. She had never responded to any of my prior messages, neither my well-crafted and eminently timely e-mails nor my professional and succint voicemails directing her attention to those e-mails. Of […]

Contacting The Media: Your First Goal

Do you have 30 seconds? Is this a good time for you to read my blog? Silly questions, I know. Why don’t I just get to the point? OK, here it is: When dialing up someone in the media, if you want to communicate with power and persuasion, then make sure they have at least […]