More and more journalists are considering press release emails spam.
At least that’s what one reporter – Josh Bernoff of Forrester’s Groundswell – feels about his own recent emails.
In his recent blog post, he names three PR ‘firms’ that have sent him emails in the past few days. He’s upset, and rightly so, since these three release have not targeted him. The sender simply sent an email out to as many journalists as possible.
I discussed a bit about targeting last month, but it seems some haven’t heeded my warning.
So let’s get a bit deeper.
Reporters want your news, if it’s what they …read more

I don’t know who Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives have doing they’re public relations, but did you catch her YouTube video which was created to kick off the House’s new YouTube Hub?
Here’s the video, just in case you missed it.

I feel bad for the Speaker of the House. A Rick Roll? Really?
It’s so old – and got even older after Macy’s tried to do the same thing at their 2008 annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
Nancy, if this was your (or your PR people’s) idea to look cool, hip and with the times, you’ve made a big mistake.
The Speaker …read more

Media used to be a solid thing: newspapers, TV, radio.
Now, with the Internet, and Web 2.0, it’s all beginning to blur. I’ve seen it. You’vve seen it. And now, someone has quantified it.
Ketchum and the University of Southern California Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center recently released thier survey results which says that media isn’t quite as solid as it used to be. And because of it, target markets are fragmenting.
Shannon Nelson (the other great PR Shannon, who happens to be from Pierce Mattie) tells us that education and creativity is key in helping PR firms and their clients reach these …read more

Fineman PR just released it’s annual list of the top public relations mistakes of 2008. While I am sure (or at least, I hope) that you aren’t on the list, there are some lessons to be learned.

Accountability is important. No matter if it was the AIG party scandal or McCain dumping Letterman for a ‘better’ gig. Being open and accountable for ones actions is always the way to go. In today’s 24/7, media driven world, it’s too easy to find out the truth when you’re not.
We are always watching. As alluded to above, the spotlight is always on, always waiting …read more

Over at The Power Publicist, I talked about all the recent announcements from media outlets who are cutting back.
And just yesterday, the Detroit newspapers announced they would no longer deliver on weekdays.
Things in the media world are tight and a bit scary for those working in it!
It means fewer reporters working on more stories, or even covering more than one beat.
I’ve always said how smaller newspapers and trade magazines are a publicity-seekers best bet for coverage. That’s because with a smaller staff, if a press release is good, they will more likely run it as is. Now, it seems that …read more

Not  sure if this video is real…but it could be. (See below.)
I used to be a TV anchor, and I’ve seen some bad stuff myself (like a certain sportscaster throwing a chair across the room, breaking a monitor). This news producer was obviously having a real bad day.
Things go wrong a lot in newsrooms, and if you really want to help them do their jobs better, you need to think like them and  help them out when you can.  Not just with stories that can benefit you, but in other ways.
Many of us journalists, producers, directors and new crews worked …read more

The public generally feels they have a right to know what’s going on. Press conferences allow the media and the public to get the scoop on what’s happening. They satisfy the public’s desire for the most up-to-date inside story on an individual’s life.
So, how do you know it’s the right time to hold a press conference?
You must make sure that you are holding your press conference for the right reasons. The media considers a conference with issues of little or no merit for someone that the public could care less about a colossal waste of time. And believe me, most …read more

It’s the time of year when calendars start to crowd out the books and magazines in bookstores. But there’s a special kind of calendar that all good public relations professionals use – the editorial calendar.

Except for the year and the names of the months, these calendars bear little resemblance to the glossy hang-up calendars in the stores. No swimsuit-clad models, lush scenery, puppies, kittens or cartoons of Dilbert. Editorial calendars are usually bare-bones lists of upcoming issue topics and major features—or at least the cover stories or special sections. Not much to look at—unless you’re a PR pro trying to …read more

Sure, sure. The big news on election night was that Barak Obama was elected the 44th president of the US.
However, I think a story got buried as a result: CNN using ‘hologram’ technology. (The reason why hologram was in single quotes is that the image isn’t a real hologram.)
It was really cool to see (and if you missed it, the video is below). But it got me thinking what it means for people being interviewed using that technology.
You see, as a publicist, I have always advised people to look their best on camera, especially concentrating on the waist up, and …read more

Worth reading:
How to Succeed in PR Campaigns – Public relations professor Karen Russell gives pointers to students about the practical portion of their studies – a campaign.
 My Five Worst Professional Mistakes – Geoff Livingston bravely offers up his biggest blunders, most resulting from his temper.
The Madness of Planning – Suw Charman-Anderson points to a local municipal planning decision that follows policy, but not common sense.
Everything Is Dead – Alice Marshall sums up the only dead-certain way to get your message into the media, and shares The Cardinal Rule of Rumor-debunking.
 The Iran Photo Manipulation Corrections – Craig Silvermans Regret …read more