Re: News Story Pitching - Call & Blab?

From: Orland Steves <kurtenback_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Wed 18 Oct 2000 16:01:25 -0500

LAWRENCE WAN <ivitae_at_mail.com> WROTE:
> Do any PR, Marcom & Marketing experts out there have
> any tales & advice on what truly works when pitching
> a story? How about sending a pitch email 1st, then
> calling? Or, is calling not effective, since it takes
> forever to reach the journalist, & they never listen
> unless you're a close contact?

IT's all about relationships. You can call ten times,
email 40 times, or send 15 faxes, but the key to being
a great story pitchmaster is simple: know your
audience well, and build relationships with them. In
the trade press this is accomplished by inviting
reporters and editors to your annual convention or
launch parties. With the mainstream press it means
knowing their habits, their likes and dislikes, and
who they really are?

Gone are the days of the PR firms blanketing the market
with news releases and press kits. They'll fall on
deaf ears if you don't know anything about who is
receiving them.

Orland Steves, is a senior communications consultant,
who writes periodically for PR publications around
the country including http://www.prmadeeasy.com





Received on Wed Oct 18 2000 - 16:01:25 CDT