http://www.womenonbusiness.com/pitching-the-media-correctly/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:03:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.womenonbusiness.com/pitching-the-media-correctly/comment-page-1/#comment-2515 Linda C Smith Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:57:04 +0000 http://www.womenonbusiness.com/?p=2400#comment-2515 Great article with valuable advice. When I worked as a newspaper reporter I would get many "pitches" and press releases. Here's what caught my attention the most and made me want to look further: (1)appropriateness of the material to my niche - I was the Lifestyle Editor so it didn't do any good sending me stories about sports; (2)professional presentation: I actually received "press releases" scribbled on napkins and torn notepaper...I didn't even look at them. There were three types I read: (a)one page release, typed, with all the appropriate info: the 5 w's and contact information; (b) the press release with an accompanying one-page Fact Sheet (bullet points); and (c) complete Press Kit - press release, Fact Sheet, photos if appropriate, background information, contact information; (3)I only listened to phone pitch if I'd first received a press release...my time was extremely limited. Oh, and don't send flowers...I had someone send me a dozen red roses in hopes I'd do a story about his business. If you don't have "news" don't approach with "fluff." Great article with valuable advice. When I worked as a newspaper reporter I would get many “pitches” and press releases. Here’s what caught my attention the most and made me want to look further: (1)appropriateness of the material to my niche – I was the Lifestyle Editor so it didn’t do any good sending me stories about sports; (2)professional presentation: I actually received “press releases” scribbled on napkins and torn notepaper…I didn’t even look at them. There were three types I read: (a)one page release, typed, with all the appropriate info: the 5 w’s and contact information; (b) the press release with an accompanying one-page Fact Sheet (bullet points); and (c) complete Press Kit – press release, Fact Sheet, photos if appropriate, background information, contact information; (3)I only listened to phone pitch if I’d first received a press release…my time was extremely limited. Oh, and don’t send flowers…I had someone send me a dozen red roses in hopes I’d do a story about his business. If you don’t have “news” don’t approach with “fluff.”

]]> http://www.womenonbusiness.com/pitching-the-media-correctly/comment-page-1/#comment-2514 Training Connection Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:30:47 +0000 http://www.womenonbusiness.com/?p=2400#comment-2514 This was a great read! Could you write to us a bit more about uncovering one's story? Everyone has one but in the thick of professional life, it gets lost in translation. Thanks so much! This was a great read! Could you write to us a bit more about uncovering one’s story? Everyone has one but in the thick of professional life, it gets lost in translation. Thanks so much!

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