The latest news can be old news within minutes these days, especially when you work in technology. And as a person working in technology it is important to see what your industry and competitors are doing as soon as it happens. That way you can react as needed to the latest news whether it’s a new business decision or, in the case of public relations, a new trend that you can jump on for one of your clients.
With summer kicking off in just a few weeks, it is hard to believe that we are already planning outreach for December holiday gift guides. However, in the PR world, Christmas is just around the corner! Consumer product gift guides are seasonal standards for many print and online publications, and are a unique opportunity for your clients to gain quality media exposure that can have a real impact on sales and awareness. These guides are so effective because they offer insight into which products would be best for each individual consumer profile, which means that most find the articles by searching for them, not having the content pushed at them. With just over five months until publication, here are four top tips for securing gift guide coverage for your clients:
Tell, Don’t Sell. Storytelling & Pitching Media 101
Posted by Jessica Payne on Feb 7, 2014 4:50:36 AM
PAN holds regular peer-to-peer training sessions as part of a knowledge-sharing program we call PANU. The program has been around for years and always has a strong turnout. Staff at PAN are hungry to learn and to share their own best practices. It’s one of the things that makes us smarter as a firm. This week, PAN account managers Adam Novak and Michael O’Connell hosted a powerful session on pitching fundamentals. While social media is my world these days, I started off in the trenches doing media relations for years – it’s where I cut my teeth – and I regularly apply principles learned then, today. Thanks to technology and social media, the mechanics of pitching have may have changed somewhat, but the fundamentals are still the same:
- Know your journalist and their deadlines and respect them
- Always add value when pitching a journalist; whether it’s data, access to executives or breaking news
- Be authentic and respectful
- Look to develop relationships versus one-off asks
- Above all, we’re storytellers
- Timing is everything
Topics: PAN Communications, Pitching, PANU, Storytelling, media relations
Journalists don't want PR news pitches through social media, survey finds
Posted by PAN Media on Jul 21, 2011 7:19:34 AM
July 21, 2011 - Journalists do not wish social media to be used by PR professionals for story pitching a survey has found, with email remaining the most popular option.
The Broadgate Mainland Digital Trends Survey, which involved 100 UK financial and business journalists, found that 81% of respondents engage with their online audience and manage their readership through online sites and through online forums.
Between one third and a half of all journalists were found to be using Twitter, with 56% of respondents admitting to having browsed through conversations on Twitter while searching for or researching stories.
Continue Reading on The Drum...
Topics: Pitching, PR, social media, journalism
The Do’s and Don’ts from New England’s Top Broadcasters
Posted by PAN Communications on Oct 22, 2010 8:36:21 AM
Publicity Club of New England held a great event in Newton yesterday evening, “Securing TV Coverage in a Major Market.” PAN Communications attended and heard tips and advice from some of the top broadcasters in New England. The broadcasters shared valuable insight on how a public relations professional can most efficiently secure coverage. Panelists included Jack Auresto, Planning Manager at FOX 25; Lauren Bettencourt, Managing Editor at WBZ and FOX25; Linda Olsen, News Assignment Editor at NECN; and Joe Roche, New Assignment Manager at ABC. The moderator was Fred Kocher of ABC.
As a relatively new employee at PAN, I had only attended one other Pub Club event and wasn’t sure what to expect. I left the event with an elevated understanding of the broadcasting world and, more notably, inspiration to create compelling stories together with the newsroom. On a day-to-day basis, our primary role as PR professionals is to pitch, pitch, pitch (and secure results!). So many times I wonder: is my story getting through? Should I be more persistent? Is today a good day to send a new pitch? I was pleasantly surprised to hear that no, you’re not bothering broadcast producers by pitching a new story each week; and yes, picking up the phone to follow-up a few times is fine!
Topics: ABC, Pitching, Publicity Club, panel, media, FOX, NECN, WBZ, broadcast, news coverage