Tips for PR Pros: December

Lessons from the Field: Six Common Client PR Mistakes that Can Bring Down the Program - Review six common client behaviors that can spell doom to one's public relations program.

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Entertainment Weekly's Popwatch - Keep up with the latest trends in TV, film, products and pop culture by subscribing to this blog via RSS.

Tips for PR Pros: October

How NOT to pitch a blog - A blogger for Online Marketing Blog outlines a few “what you should not do” tips based on the 3-5 pitches he receives per day.

KDPaine's PR Measurement Blog - provides information about how to measure public affairs, media relations, social media, internal communications and blogs.

Tips for PR Pros: June

Tips for PR pros

What Captures the Attention of Radio Listeners? - learn who America's radio listeners are and what they want to hear about so that you can best pitch your story to a radio producer or news director

Why timing is everything: A broadcast reporter answers your media coverage questions - Veteran reporter Scott Sayres of Fox 4 in Dallas answers questions from PR professionals.

In Case You Missed It: May Meeting Recap

On May 16, Weber-Shandwick hosted the Meet the Press Part 2: Broadcast Media meeting. The panel included Playboy Radio associate producer and booker, Melissa Winter; KABC Automotive Reporter, Dave Kunz and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno segment producer, Steve Kozak. Below are their Do's and Don'ts when pitching broadcast media:

DO:

• Include a celebrity tie-in to your pitch when possible.
• Send creative mail! They personally enjoy getting something traditional and a little out-of-the-ordinary
• Be brief in e-mails and on the phone
• If one journalist is interested in your pitch, be honest about other journalists within their outlet you are pitching. They don't want to inadvertently work on the same story.

DON'T:

• Make your e-mail subject line too long
• Use informal language when you speak with the journalist, such as "Wuz up?"
• Offer an exclusive interview, but not honor the agreement

In Case You Missed It: April Meeting Recap

On April 18, GolinHarris hosted the Meet the Press Part 1: Print meeting. LA Times staff writer Jean Guccione and Randy Hagihara, senior editor for recruitment, spoke briefly on their personal experiences as journalists and then opened the floor to an informative question and answer session. Below are some of the words of wisdom they shared with the group of over 20 young professionals.

Some things you may already know…

• Keep press releases short but make sure to include all the important information. (Make it as easy as possible for the reporter to cover your story or event)
• Don’t assume reporters always check their email. Call to follow-up.
• When you do call, remember that most reporters are on deadline after 3 p.m. (Try and catch them mid-morning)
• When pitching event attendance, make sure to give a few weeks notice and then follow-up with a reminder closer to the event.
• Always be accessible. Journalists are more likely to start going to you for information if they know you are a reliable resource.

…and some things maybe you didn’t...

• Pitch the morning editor for a better chance of getting placement.
• It’s ok to pitch the same story to more than one reporter as long as you are honest and upfront about it.
• Try pitching a newspapers blog. Your story may not fit into the paper but could be featured in a blog post.
• Sometimes stories in smaller publications get the attention of the bigger papers.
• Too much information to fit in your release? Set up a mini-site that can include pictures, graphics and other details.

What advice can you offer? Post your comments and share your wisdom.

We Asked, They Said - June

Tell us about a time that you successfully pitched a story to a TV station. How did the story turn out?

Tips for PR Pros: April

Branding In Cyberspace: Panel experts agreed that with so much information available to the consumer today there is a unique opportunity for a brand to define itself as an authoritative voice in the consumer experience

• iMedia Connection - Created for brand marketers to advance the business of interactive media and marketing, the site covers topics including wireless technology and its effects on brand marketing, recent internet campaigns and the latest Nielsen NetRatings

• Wylie’s Writing Tips - Wylie's Writing Tips is packed with tips, tricks and trends to help you get the word out in print and online

Tips for PR Pros: February

Seize the day: Dynamics that will raise the profile of public relations in 2007

"As media lines continue to blur and Web 2.0 morphs our communications strategies, organizations have more opportunities to communicate directly with those who matter. They are also drawing more scrutiny from a growing legion of media — customers, analysts, industry observers and other bloggers —because of changes in the media environment.

When so many people have so much to say about so many things, is the world a more exciting or potentially more forbidding place? The answer depends on your viewpoint and relative comfort with open dialogue."

Reading the tea leaves for 2007

"The truth is that no one knows what the future will bring. But savvy businesspeople can make an educated guess based on patterns from the past. We know, for example, that the Internet continues to grow in importance as a channel of information. We also know that social media is changing the way certain segments of the population talk to each other and gather data. With that in mind, here are quick takes on a few trends public relations people need to watch for in 2007."

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The Navigator: Your guide to successful communications

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