I read an interesting blog post today from Arik Hanson’s blog “Communications Conversations” titled News releases or blog posts: What is the future of media relations? In it, he suggests that companies and individuals hoping to gain attention through the media should give up on the outmoded use of traditional news releases in favor of blogs. Blogs, he says, offer many benefits including: Continue reading “PR Pro Thinks Blog Posts are the New Press Release — But, What do Journalists Think?”
Tag: journalist
Introducing Something New? How To Generate News!
Whether you’re opening a new business, launching a new product, hiring a new employee, writing a book, creating a blog, etc., etc., etc., there are a number of activities that your business might engage in that you feel should generate news. Problem is, there is often a gap (or seems to be) between what you think is newsworthy and what the new media think.
The good news is that even very small organizations can generate media exposure. They need, though, to follow some general guidelines. Continue reading “Introducing Something New? How To Generate News!”
Are Travel Agents Making a Comeback (and why you should care)?
The Internet has had a dramatic impact on many industries and businesses–creating opportunities for some and destroying them for others. Consider the changing nature of the publishing industry and the impact of being able to buy online for companies like Best Buy and many others. But business tends to be cyclical and it is often true that “what goes around comes around.” A recent article in the New York Times suggests that this may be the case for at least one industry — Continue reading “Are Travel Agents Making a Comeback (and why you should care)?”
SOPA, PIPA and Health Care Reform
If there’s one thing that can be said with certainty about SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (the Protect IP Act), it’s “the issues are confusing!” What does it all mean? From media reports that both are bad for business, particularly small business – to backers of the proposals, the reports are confusing to say the least.
At the most basic level Continue reading “SOPA, PIPA and Health Care Reform”
“Real” Writers Hate Demand Media, Suite101, etc. – But Should They?
There is a common enemy in the world of freelance writers and it is Demand Media (and Suite101, and About.com, and Examiner and…) – the “content farms” that pay writers literally pennies (sometimes less), per word, and distrbute their content to the growing masses of online sites hungry for new content to fuel their Continue reading ““Real” Writers Hate Demand Media, Suite101, etc. – But Should They?”
It Pays to Proofread. Even if You’re a Scammer.
Even those trying to scam people could benefit from a good writer/editor. Check out this email that showed up in my mailbox this morning. It’s reeking with credibility – NOT! Continue reading “It Pays to Proofread. Even if You’re a Scammer.”
What’s a Journalist?
In an era where anybody with a keyboard can create a blog (akin to publishing a newspaper) can *anyone* be a journalist? What is the definition of journalist? The credentials? Is there a difference between a journalist and a writer? Between a journalist and a blogger? Does it matter? To who?
I’ve become interested in the topic recently because, while doing research Continue reading “What’s a Journalist?”
TweetEthics: Trust and Transparency in a Web 2.0 World
As PR reps and journalists for individuals and companies learn more about the benefits of Twitter, and other forms of social media, questions are arising about how/how not to present information.
Should the writer of a post – or tweet – reveal who they are? Indicate that they’re writing “on behalf of” another individual or organization? Let the reader draw his/her own conclusions? What’s right? What’s not? Continue reading “TweetEthics: Trust and Transparency in a Web 2.0 World”
Is “Old Media” Dead? I Don’t Think So.
In an online forum, recently, a poster made the observation that “old media is dead.” Hmmm. I can understand the sentiment. After all, it seems like every day we hear about some media outlet that is either downsizing or shutting down completely and we all “know” that *nobody* reads newspapers anymore… But, I’m skeptical. In fact, I have a feeling that “old media” may eventually be reincarnated. Continue reading “Is “Old Media” Dead? I Don’t Think So.”
When You’re Pitching To “The Media”
At least once a week – maybe more often – I’ll have a prospect or client say to me: “I can’t understand why the media won’t run a story on my…” Well, there may be a number of reasons. Here are 5: Continue reading “When You’re Pitching To “The Media””