Newspaper Publicity

Reporter needs sources for story on relationships

2/12/2012 By Joan 2 Comments

A reporter at a national publication is examining what happens when a person who is emotionally available and expressive pairs up with someone who is not. She is looking for people to interview.

Are you an emotional “giver”—someone who is comfortable expressing your love, affection and feelings? Are you married to or dating someone who is more emotionally reserved? (Maybe he or she is comfortable with receiving affection but has a hard time expressing it.) How do you become comfortable with this dynamic and make the relationship work? Have you had to work through your differences? How?

If you have interesting stories to tell about this topic, please write as soon as possible to aceb5@aol.com and send details of your anecdote and contact information. Anyone quoted will need to be willing to use their name.

Deadline for contacting the reporter is noon Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Filed Under: General, Newspaper Publicity Tagged With: mismatched couples, relationships

Feel dumb in social settings? Respond to this media lead

1/30/2012 By Joan 1 Comment

A reporter at a national publication is exploring the phenomenon of how smart people sometimes feel dumb in intimate social settings and needs sources to interview.

Have you ever clammed up in a business meeting, at a cocktail or dinner party, on jury duty, or at some other small social event—-even though you know you’re as smart (or smarter) than anyone else in the room? And is this a departure from your usual personality?

If you have funny or interesting stories to tell about this topic, please respond as soon as possible to aceb5@aol.com with details of your anecdote and contact information. Anyone quoted must be willing to use to use their name.

Filed Under: Media Leads, Newspaper Publicity Tagged With: newspaper publicity, shy people

Relationships columnist needs tips on psychology research

1/17/2012 By Joan Leave a Comment

A columnist who writes about relationships for a top-tier media outlet (you or your PR clients will want to get into this one) wants to develop relationships with people who do research on psychology or relationships, particularly psychologists or academics.

“One of my frustrations in my column is that I don’t often hear about the research early,” the columnist says.

Respond in the comments section below and explain why you’d be a good source.

Should you pitch?

Nope. She, like other journalists, wants exclusive material. Just give what she asked for and let her decide if you’re worth pursuing.

Filed Under: Media Leads, Newspaper Publicity Tagged With: psychology research, relationship studies

Nominate a newspaper for a notable idea, achievement

12/12/2011 By Joan 2 Comments

Don’t be surprised if the newspaper, as we know it today, is gone a decade from now.

But before it disappears, let’s give the newspapers that do an exceptional job their due. If you have a favorite local, regional or national newspaper that achieved something noteworthy in at least one area this past year, nominate it for Editor & Publisher’s “10 Newspapers That Do it Right” award.

The annual award spotlights newspapers that have done an oustanding job at things such as sponsoring community events, offering hyperlocal content, covering high school sports or introducing a Groupoin type of “deal of the day” program. Ideas can be for editorial coverage, advertising or circulation campaigns, or anything else you’ve noticed.

Winners will be featured in the magazine’s March 2012 issue. You can see winners from last year. Deadline for nominations is Jan. 24.

Publicity Hounds: If a newspaper you nominate wins, it’s just one more way to build a relationship with a media outlet that might cover you later.

Filed Under: Newspaper Publicity Tagged With: 10 newspapers that do it right, community journalism, deal of the day, E&P, Editor & Publisher, high school sports, newspaper ad campaigns, newspaper awards

6 ways to promote your retail business before you open

10/11/2011 By Joan 8 Comments

Create a buzz all over town long before your store opens.

These days, in a sour economy, businesses opening just about anywhere are major news. So don’t shy away from publicity. Here six ways to promote your retail business before you open.

Display a large banner or sign outside your building letting people know you’ll be opening. Thanks to Alyson Stanfield, a business coach for artists and an art marketing expert, for this idea which I read at her blog yesterday.
Pitch the story to the local media. Contact a reporter at your local newspaper, business journal or business magazine and pitch a story about the opening. Angles can include why you chose this time, when the economy is bad, to open a new business.
Write a press release. Post it on a site like Craigslist, which gets millions of eyeballs. Post it only in one category and only in the city closest to where your business is located.
Plan a fun grand opening celebration. Publicize it on a local event sites like Yelp, EventCrazy.com and MeetUp.com. This list of 27 questions to ask before promoting your event will stimulate ideas and help you plan a more interesting event. Please, no boring ribbon-cuttings. You can do better than that. Here are some alternatives to ribbon-cutting events.
Just before you open, create a business profile on Google Maps.
Contact related businesses and offer to cross-promote. Ask them to display flyers about your grand opening at the front counter. Tell them that once you open, you’ll be happy to promote something they’re doing. If you’re opening a pet store, contact owners of dog kennels, dog obedience schools and veterinarians.