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Topic: Hard to find sources
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| Author | Message |
| flyingblind | Posted – 3/25/2005 2:58:48 PM | show profile I've just started working with a few trades and find it difficult to get companies to talk about their operations and marketing processes. Obviously, there are propriatary systems in place, so the reluctance is for obvious reasons. Especially since I never have problems getting companies to open up with a big mainstream pub behind me. I was curious if anybody else has run into this and how you get around it. |
| subinlosangeles | Posted – 3/25/2005 3:55:21 PM | show profile Some companies won't talk to trades -- they figure the only ones reading will be their competitors. That said, I've written for a lot of trades and generally companies will do interviews. |
| beenthere | Posted – 3/25/2005 5:27:59 PM | show profile You may have to go through PR, which is frustrating and limits the amount of info you get. At trades it's, all about building relationships -- until you can get your name recognized and trusted, contacts may clam up. I worked at a trade years ago and what helped was to name drop another editor at the mag who had been covering the business for years and was quite respected. That opened doors. Also, trades are more competitive as far as placement, ''promise'' of stories. It just may be that they've cut an ad deal with a competitor -- it may have nothing to do with you. |
| flyingblind | Posted – 3/26/2005 3:43:17 AM | show profile Thanks, that's good advice. I don't work on staff so it may be more difficult to build up trust. |
| monicamarie4 | Posted – 3/26/2005 7:42:59 AM | show profile Beenthere's advice is really sound But, flyingblind, it's easy for freelancer's to identify with you. I've found that the editors and reporters/staff members of the publications I write for are approachable and helpful. If the trade you write for is in the city where you live, I suggest meeting for lunch or coffee with your editor or some staff people to get to know them better. You can pick their brains for advice and support. I've found that people are very interested in helping freelancers whose work they respect. Face time is always important because it allows the people we deal with via phone or the internet to get to know us as real people. We get to see them in the same way Building up your netowrk of professional support is important to your career. If you can, try to meet some of the people at the trades in person. If that is not possible due to geographic constraints, at least make time for a phone conversation -- a meeting by telephone can offer valuable assistance, too. |
| VillageGal | Posted – 3/26/2005 1:49:57 PM | show profile Maybe it depends on the area you are covering but when I freelanced for trades, I found it was pretty easy to get interviews, altho I often had to go thru PR. I agree about asking your editors for sources. Trade mag eds do that willingly. |
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