Top Reasons to Target Smaller Local Media Outlets

You have a great story to tell. You’ve written up an interesting press release, and you’re hoping to land some serious coverage from the media. What do you do now? Who do you send your press release to?… Read more

Choosing the Target Audience for Your PR Campaign

Imagine your client is an opera singer who has been lauded for excelling at a challenging role. Right now she’s only famous inside her native country, but she has hired you to elevate her to worldwide fame. Or perhaps your company’s India branch has been accused of labor violations, and it… Read more

When (Not) to Hold a Press Conference

Press Conferences – The Reality

If television and the movies are to be believed, press conferences are the backbone of the public relations industry.  Every time a character in a movie does something important, he or she is often seen standing in front of microphones from the likes of the BBC and CNN … Read more

Pay-for-Play PR – Is the Gamble Worth It?

Pay-for-play or pay-for-performance PR is a tempting proposition. It’s akin to lottery and casino come-ons, filled with the promise of winning the big jackpot. Only the jackpot here is landing a story placement in a major media outlet. … Read more

Turning the Tables: A Journalist Talks Public Relations

A while back, a friend who works in the public relations industry cornered me with a few questions. The following discussion about public relations and the media takes a little peek into how the two intertwined industries relate to each other.

Q: Would you ever consider moving to the dark side of public rel… Read more

Public Relations Basics: There Is No Magic Press Release Bullet

The “magic bullet” theory of public relations — that one press release is all you need to grab the attention of journalists — is easily debunked. A single press release will rarely, if ever, do the trick. To quote a journalist friend, “familiarity breeds credibility.&#… Read more

Turning Down a Press Opportunity Isn’t PR Suicide

Many public relations professionals may find it hard to believe, but it’s okay to turn down a press opportunity. And I’m not talking about opportunities where you may get sandbagged by a reporter. I’m talking about a press opportunity that looks good, at least on the surface.

Case in p… Read more

Public Relations and Blogs: Controlling the Message

An era when data can be sent and received outside of traditional media outlets–via blogs, email, instant messaging, text messaging, camera phones, etc.–has created an atmosphere where truth is the prize. Those in the public relations industry must delicately balance the public’… Read more

Story Proposals: Customizing A Press Release For Reporters

Who says a press release is the only way to court the media? Story proposals can sometimes be more effective when approaching your personal “A list” of journalists, presenting customized pitches that match their sensibilities and the news beat they cover.

While a good press release presen… Read more

PR Basics: Taking the Mystery Out of Community Relations

Of all the subsets of public relations, community relations is perhaps the most perplexing. That’s because the term encompasses so many different types of activities. When budgeting for public relations, how should you decide where to focus your community relations dollars and energies? By go… Read more