30
Mar
2008
When pitching your story to the media, sometimes a “no” can be a good thing. If a reporter expresses a lack of interest in your pitch, be sure to find out why your news isn’t a good fit. Often, reporters will provide valuable insight into the material they are most interested in, and the sources and information they need most. Asking for feedback can improve your pitching, uncover new angles and lead to future media coverage.
23
Mar
2008
A reporter’s time is a limited. To capture media attention, make sure your writing is concise and packs a punch. A good press release is a brief, one-pager that tells the heart of the story in the first paragraph. Avoid using extravagant language (thrilled to announce), unnecessary adjectives (free gift), and redundant phrases (unexpected surprise).
18
Mar
2008
DENVER — March 18, 2008 — Jewish Family Service of Colorado, a human services agency serving more than 22,000 people each year regardless of faith or economic status in the Denver metro area, has launched JFS at Home, an in-home care agency providing support and services to help seniors and those with chronic illnesses live safe, healthy, independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. JFS at Home has nearly 30 highly skilled, certified caregivers on staff to provide customized personal care assistance, homemaker services, and medical care referrals to those in the Denver metro area.
16
Mar
2008
Advertising and public relations both work to build awareness and demand for a product or company. So, what’s the difference between these two very distinct strategies? First, advertising offers complete control over the timing and placement of your messages. However, PR offers greater credibility and can be much more cost-effective. Advertising, especially with a large budget, can build awareness for a brand or a product name. However, nothing drives people to action like an “endorsement” from a familiar magazine or news reporter. The bottom line: use a good mix of marketing strategies to communicate your message through multiple channels.
9
Mar
2008
There are many different approaches to public relations, but all PR experts should have one thing in common — they must adhere to the same Associated Press writing style. Journalists use AP writing style as the standard for appropriate word usage, capitalization, punctuation, abbreviation and more. Not sure whether to use “nine” or “9″ in your press release? Grab a copy of the AP Stylebook from your local bookstore for guidance.
