2006 April

‘The View’ producers know what they want–don’t try to change their minds

4/22/2006 By Joan Leave a Comment

A Publicity Hound writes:

“I have a client who has been booked on the ‘Today’ show as part of their “Love After 40″ series. I didn’t get the segment directly. ‘Today’ called us after seeing the local NBC segment about my client. I am wondering the best wording to use to capitalize on this exciting opportunity. I was turned down by ‘The View’ but I feel like I should call again to let them know the ‘Today’ show wants my client and to suggest that perhaps they should take another look.

“I also want to call our local newspaper and More magazine to let them know about the ‘Today’ show. Any advice on how to word my conversation with these other media outlets?

My answer:

When a media outlet says it isn’t interested, never try to change their minds. Media people hate that. It’s as though you’re asking, “Don’t you think you made a bad decision that you want to reverse?”

During a teleseminar called “How to Get booked on ‘The View,’” that I hosted a few years ago with Erin Saxton, a former producer for “The View,” Erin said the show is very different from most other talk shows. It’s known as “The Selfish Women Show.” In fact, Erin says that’s what they call themselves because the show focuses on how women can help themselves, pamper themselves and make themselves feel good. So forget about “The View” and move on.

Definitely let the local newspaper know about the “Today” show. This is news and they should be interested. When you pitch to More, let the story idea stand on its own. More doesn’t much care that your client appeared on “Today.” I would however, capitalize on the “Today” appearance by:

—Having the client add “As see on the ‘Today’ show” in their email signature.

—Mentioning this media appearance at their website and get a clip, if possible, with permission to include it at the website.

—Include this mention in bio material.

Time, Fortune, People, Business 2.0 to feature easy-to-find table of contents

4/21/2006 By Joan Leave a Comment

Finally, no more fumbling around to find the table of contents in four popular magazines published by Time Inc.

WSJ.com reports that Fortune, People and Business 2.0 will feature the table of contents on the first page. A flap on the inside front cover will tell readers Philips Electronics is making that possible. The issue of Time that’s involved goes on sale Monday, April 24.

Here’s hoping that other magazines follow Time’s lead.

Filed Under: Magazine Publicity

Good Housekeeping articles editor blogs

4/21/2006 By Joan Leave a Comment

Jennifer Braunschweiger, the articles editor at Good Housekeeping magazine, blogs about her life as a first-time mom at the GH Mom Blog.

A tip for Hounds who want to pitch Good Housekeeping: Read her blog, then mention it when you pitch. Even betteer, start posting comments to her blog. This is an almost guaranteed way for journalists to know who you are before you deliver a pitch.

Most blogs, like this one, include a complete profile of the blogger–another great way to learn little tidbits that might help you when pitching.

If you want a journalist’s bio but you can’t find it online, check out NewsBios.com, where you can buy detailed, individual bios.

Then once you have it, it’s time to start introducing yourself and being a great source. See my article “How to be a Valuable Source the Media Loves.”

Filed Under: Magazine Publicity, Publicity on the Internet, Writing Articles

College speakers wanted: Free teleseminar explains how to get booked

4/20/2006 By Joan Leave a Comment

Too many speakers go after the same markets when trying to book speaking engagements.

They chase after trade association meeting planners who typically receive calls and letters from several dozen speakers each day.

James Malinchak, a 33-year-old stock broker-turned-speaker, says that if you can spin your topic for a college audience, you can command attractive fees and keep busy speaking to college students year-round, or whenever it’s most convenient for you.

Colleges hire speakers, authors, trainers, coaches and consultants for orientation, welcome week and back-to-school programs. They need speakers for student leadership gatherings, student government events, and lectures sponsored by fraternities and sororities.

They need experts to address students at career and job fairs, commencements and graduations, student conferences and summer programs. Add to the list academic, athletic and club events, and other meetings where an “outside” expert is needed.

Best of all, colleges and universities have guaranteed budgets from sources like student activity fees. If you can book yourself at a college, a flurry of publicity can often precede and follow your speech. Your article and photo can show up not only in the college newspaper, but in the local and weekly newspapers in that town. You might even end up on local radio and TV stations and be seen by students and others who never even heard you speak at the event on campus.

But the secret is knowing how to navigate the college speaking circuit, who to contact, how to follow up, and how to identify which topics are in demand.

Join James Malinchak and me for a complimentary telephone seminar at noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 26 (originally scheduled for April 19). Jim will spill the beans on how to find your way to the meeting and event planners who hire speakers at colleges and universities. Register for the teleseminar.

If you can’t make it, sign up anyway and you can listen to the recording afterward.

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers, Newspaper Publicity, Publicity for Niche Markets, Special Events

Pay-for-placement spreading to TV news

4/20/2006 By Joan Leave a Comment

When I watch “The Sopranos,” my eyes are riveted on their refrigerator and kitchen cupboards, hoping to catch a peek at what America’s most dysfunctional mob family is eating these days.

Son AJ chows down on Kellogg’s Corn Pops, and papa bear Tony guzzles Tropicana orange juice right out of the carton. Those product manufacturers paid dearly for the product placements, no doubt.

Now, cash-strapped TV and radio stations and even newspapers are using the product placement idea that was once reserved only for TV shows and movies to lure advertisers into, hang onto your seat, the news. Yes, the news. As in, buy an ad, get a story.

KRON-TV Channel 4 in San Francisco, for example, once a well-respected news operation, now offers “product integration fees” to people who want to be included in news stories. In February, the station broadcast an 11-part “Spa Spectacular,” in which each featured spa paid a fee and bought advertising. Anchors offered viewers a chance to buy half-price spa certificates at the end of each segment.

At Univision’s KMEX in Los Angeles, the station interviewed Kaiser Permanente doctors and patients for health stories. In return, they shot “new” footage at Kaiser facilities.

I’m writing an article for PR Tactics, the newspaper published by PRSA, and I’m looking for PR pros or anyone who has run up against this policy when pitching. Did your company agree to pay the fees to get a story in return? If so, was the result worth it?

Or does your company have a strict policy of not caving into these kinds of arrangements? I’m particularly interested in hearing about your experiences with TV and radio stations.

Email me at mailto:jstewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=PlacementFees and I might call you for an interview. Please respond by Friday, April 28.

Alex Carroll, a veteran guest on more than 1,264 radio talk shows, says that you’ll never have to pay for placement if you’re an enticing guest who can really pull in listeners on a radio talk show. He was my guest during a teleseminar called “How to Get Booked on Big Radio Shows in the Top 20 Markets.”

Filed Under: Radio Publicity, TV Publicity