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Reality TV shows: How to sell your idea to Hollywood

2/14/2008 By Leave a Comment

How to get a reality TV show like American IdolEverybody, it seems, wants their own reality TV show like American Idol, The Apprentice or Project Runway. 

But how do you break into the lucrative world of reality TV, whether you’ve got an idea for a multi-million-dollar series or a low-budget niche show on cable?

Be in West Hollywood from 7 to 10 p.m. on Monday, March 3. That’s when Media Bistro will present a class on “Writing the Reality TV Show.” 

You’ll learn whether reality shows are really reality, how much planning and production goes into unscripted storytelling and how you can get in on the action.

You’ll look at various types of reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps (Dog the Bounty Hunter, Laguna Beach) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (Hell’s Kitchen, Survivor) to personality-driven and “aspirational” series (Tasty Travels, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).

Then you’ll learn how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.

Fee is $65. To register for the course, you’ll first have to register for free at the Media Bistro login page.

Filed Under: TV Publicity

PR Web: Disband your Press Release Police

2/13/2008 By 25 Comments

pressreleasepolice.jpgI’ve been a huge proponent of PRWeb, the press release distribution service, because of its great customer service and the rave reviews from publicists whose press releases get fabulous pick-up.

But I don’t like what I’m hearing about the company’s Press Release Police who are hassling writers like BL Ochman, one of my favorite press release writers of all time, and award-winning publicist Sharon Dotson of Houston, whose releases I feature in my press release writing workshops as well as my free tutorial “89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases.”

When BL wanted to distribute a release through PRWeb, she got a call from a rep telling her that because the release wasn’t written entirely in third person, it was “too much like an ad.” They reached a compromise, and she ended up removing the word ”your” and “our” in several places.

“I wrote the release exactly as I think it might run in a blog post or in mainstream media. It’s a casual topic, and it’s a casual release.”

You can read BL’s account of it here.  

If the Press Release Police are worried about copy that sounds too promotional, they should also worry about many of the releases they distribute that include copy more potent than sleeping pills, pompous boilerplate and bunches of mind-numbing acronyms.

Particularly bothersome was Sharon Dotson’s comment at BL’s blog that the Press Release Police have slapped her hands for using, of all things, humor! 

This is just a guess. But are PRWeb’s police actually sales reps disguised as wordsmiths?

The slap on the wrist they’re giving to writers like BL and Sharon, who have long track records of success, will come back to bite them once the PR community gets wind of this.  

Have any of you press release writers experienced this same nonsense? 

Filed Under: Blogs, PR Consultants/Publicists, Press Releases/News Releases

Author of book for Christians needs publicity ideas

2/12/2008 By 11 Comments

Catherine Painter of Raleigh, North Carolina writes:

So You're a Christian, Now What?“My Bible study book, ‘So, You’re a Christian! Now What?’ is a 12-week study for small groups in churches, or for individuals who will work through it alone.
 
“The book is in bookstores now and the publisher, Hensley Publishing, also sells them at their website.

“I sell books as well, dozens at the time, at book signings especially when I’m invited to speak to religious groups.
 
“The book is targeted to new Christians who profess Christ as adults. However, many adults more mature in their faith buy the book and actually recognize the quality and substance in the book more than the baby Christians do.

“Can your readers share ideas on what else I can do to promote the book? My website is at http://www.catherinepainterministries.com/.”

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers

PR types don’t understand how consumers use media

2/11/2008 By 2 Comments

How consumers use the mediaWhen consumers want to buy a flat-screen TV, take a vacation to a place where they’ve never been, or see a movie at the local theater, who do they turn to for advice?

Their friends, family and experts.

Yet only one in four communications professonials have a word-of-mouth program in place. An article in the February issue of PR Tactics includes results from a survey called Myths & Realities, conducted by Ketchum and USC’s Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center.

It says that despite strong evidence that friends, family and experts play a key role in influencing decisions, only 24 percent of communicators have a word-of-mouth program in place.

Those programs might include:

  • A company blog.
  • Something as simple as a “tell a friend” box at your website.
  • A contest in which consumers create a clever video of how they use your product or video, upload it to YouTube and compete for prizes.
  • Encouraging customers to write a product review and post it at your website

There are dozens more ideas. Let’s hear yours.

Filed Under: Blogs, Contests, Publicity on the Internet, Social networking, YouTube

Newseum, the news industry museum, to open April 11

2/7/2008 By Leave a Comment

NewseumThe Newseum, an interactive, state-of-the-art museum about the news industry, will announce today that it plans to open April 11, about six months later than originally planned.

An article in the Washington Post says admission will be free for everyone on April 11. The article also explains how schools can take advantage of lower admission prices.

I’m not traveling much anymore, but this is definitely on my “must see” list if I make it to D.C.

Filed Under: Magazine Publicity, Newspaper Publicity, Radio Publicity, TV Publicity
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