| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Publicists' Corner > Topic: Media Contacts |
Topic: Media Contacts
| Author | Message |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/5/2007 4:52:41 PM | show profile | email poster I am a up and coming Fashion/Beauty Publicist in Columbus, Ohio and I am trying to find out the best way to get media contacts and establish relationships. Does anyone have any advice?? Also - does anyone know creative ways to pitch stories? |
| Cyrus | Posted – 2/5/2007 5:11:18 PM | show profile Honestly, all these are straightforward questions that really should go in the beginner's forum as much as anywhere. I'm not trying to be harsh, but if you don't know the answers to these things, you're not ready to go out on your own. The second question honestly makes me wonder whether your background is appropriate. Again, I'm not trying to be harsh; this kind of comment is NOTHING like what you'll get from a reporter or editor if you contact them and it's clear you don't know your stuff. The best piece of advice I can give you: READ THE PUBS YOU WANT TO PITCH. It sounds crazy, but you'd be amazed at how many in our business don't do that and it really makes PR as a whole look VERY BAD. If you do that, you'll get a huge leap forward right there. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| maphop | Posted – 2/5/2007 5:38:02 PM | show profile I rather suspect that this post isn't a serious one. It can't be. Really. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 2/6/2007 11:05:03 AM | show profile I hope you're right, maphop. But if I were betting one way or another, I'd sadly place my money on it being a serious post. I've seen just way, way too many uninformed people enter our business. I will say hopefully I AM wrong and it's a joke, but we're almost two months from April Fool's Day. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/6/2007 1:43:56 PM | show profile Rude Reply Im sorry - I accidently posted this in the wrong section. I am a begginer - hence the title "Up and Coming". I am still learning. I don't think those rude responses were necessary. Unless it was a joke, but remember its two months from April Fools Day. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 2/6/2007 1:58:10 PM | show profile It may have been considered a rude reply, but if you don't know those things, you aren't a publicist or PR practitioner, just as I can't call myself a barber only because I have a pair of scissors. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/6/2007 2:13:30 PM | show profile Hmmmmmmm I don't believe that to be true. I have done TONS of publicity work around here, internships, volunteer work, and have plenty of full-time experience. I was asking if there were any other ways besides the traditional ways to get media contacts - I have plenty - I do read the publications that I am trying to target - local and national. I am also in Columbus, Ohio and there is not a lot of resources here- so I was trying to get some additional insight. Yes I may have posted it in the wrong section, and I apologized for that - But I don't think anyone deserves to get the response that you provided to me. I am a firm believer in whatever you want to be you will be, so if I want to grab some scissors and start cutting hair - I am a barber. If I want to wake up in the morning and start writing - I am a writer. Note - next time a forum gets under you skin that much - don't reply. It?s really not that serious. |
| Dani Fanny | Posted – 2/6/2007 3:45:44 PM | show profile I agree with Newpublicist Maphop and Cyrus just saw the chance to make themselves feel better by putting you down. Why the snobbery???? PR is hardly rocket science or even an exclusive club as you make it out to be ....."our business" haha...such geeks. |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/6/2007 4:15:11 PM | show profile Thank you greenblouse7. I appreciate the response. I made a mistake - I apologized for it and did not expect to get my head bitten off for it. I would never respond to someone like that, even if I thought was a dumb question to ask on an experienced/senior posting. I am a beginner - I have only been in this industry for about 3 years and the market that I am in is very small. Not that I need to explain myself, but we don't have a big Fashion/Beauty industry here and I was just trying to find out OTHER creative ways to pitch stories and meet media. I know some PRSA orgs in different cities have "Meet the Media day" - we don't. So, I was just posting to see if any one has different approaches than the ones I have used previously. I just wanted to expand outside my market that?s all. I thought this was the place where I could go to ask questions like that without being criticized. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 2/6/2007 5:34:59 PM | show profile Greenblouse, I don't know about you, but I'm in this as a business. It pays my bills, so why you may think it's ludicrous to characterize as such, I don't. I admit there are many that don't know what the hell they're doing, but it's why I don't do consumer products, but rather restrict myself to legal, finance and other B2B areas where there's not all that "noise" and you quickly can show to people you know what the hell you're talking about. But if you ARE in PR in any shape or form, you would know that some of the questions most frequently asked in here really should be known by anyone who purports to be in the business. And anybody in PR should want to advance higher standards for everybody because that raises everyone's boat. People will make more money, get better clients, etc. and people who practice PR wouldn't be called flacks and hucksters. That said, the original poster did ask a legitimate question in terms of establishing relationships. To newpublicist, I would encourage you to do all you can to make their job easier. Do things that will help them, even if it doesn't benefit you or a client in the short term. Believe me, it will come back to be a big reward later. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| WeezWrites | Posted – 2/6/2007 6:14:31 PM | show profile EMail me off list, NewPub Hi NewPub, Shoot me an email off list. I'm at louise@theworkingwriter.com Louise :) |
| Plush | Posted – 2/6/2007 6:22:37 PM | show profile Hey Newpublicist, I am also in the fashion industry - send me your email address and I would be happy to talk to you and help you any way that I can. |
| Dani Fanny | Posted – 2/6/2007 8:42:29 PM | show profile see? there are actually nice people out there who care and like to help rather than just jump at the opportunity to berate people to make themselves look like the smarty pants. yay for nice people. one tip, newpublicist is if you're pursuing fashion pr, then build as many relationships as possible with the big fashion stylists and their agencies..stylists are a surefire best way for a beginner to get press for clients (probably at much lower rates then a client who pays 3,500/month to a big time fashion pr company). |
| hawkmail | Posted – 2/6/2007 11:52:27 PM | show profile Cyrus isn't being rude, he's being real I haven't posted on this board in over a year specifically because of this type of situation.... people who don't do the necessary strategic thinking, leg work, networking, research, and whatever else is involved to get where they want to go and ask others here to provide the magic secret to succeeding at their dream job. Cyrus is an accomplished preofessional who, like other long-time posters Caitlin Kelly, Sheila Mullen, et al, has repeatedly shared his experience and insights with "newbies" and the rest of us on this board. There may be (and I'll speak for myself here) a level of frustration with posts such as yours. Reread your post..... do you think it might read as if you need the most basic elements a PR professional relies on daily? Contacts. Relationships. Pitching. What you've asked for, and the way you've asked it, make it sound like you are lacking the basic foundation you would need to do your job. People here are generous and willing to share. Think about what you really need help with and let us know the kinds of things you've already tried. Show you've thought things through and done your homework. Then, I believe, most people here are generous and helpful. A publicist needs to have a good read on people and a very thick skin. If you think Cyrus was being mean or rude in his response to you, you are in for a very rude awakening. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's the truth. |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/7/2007 9:03:12 AM | show profile Thank you so much for the people who responded to my questions and I will contact you offline. To Hawkmail - you don't know anything about me and although I am not a "media professional" yet, I am working on it. I don't need anyone to give me any secrets, I was just asking a question - for additional creativity ideas. I know all the basics. However, if I didn't want to do any work - why would I be sitting here arguing with people who are supposed to be "Professionals" - about a question that plenty of people to come to this website for. If I didn't want do the legwork, or the networking - why would I be spending all my hard earned $ in PRSA, IABC, AMA, and going to event after event after event to network with people - until I cannot network anymore. If I was lazy about my career, I would not be on Mediabistro asking for "ideas" not know how. I also have VERY thick skin, however on a professional level - there is a way that you address people without being rude. I don't have to re-read the post, I know what I asked and I don't feel stupid for asking it. To Cyrus - I don't have any personal hard feelings against you. Everyone is different in the way that they handle things. I was not trying to start an argument; I was just asking a question. I am not losing any sleep over anything that you said. So if I offended you I apologize - you are more than welcome not to participate in this forum and that goes for anyone else who is upset over a question. As I review this site, I notice books on how to pitch stories, how to network, courses on becoming a better asset to your career and it makes me wonder - if people are writing books about it, if websites are creating a place where people can come and talk about it - then why are people so upset about a question. If it?s that dumb - don't answer - that?s all. That?s it. There is so much more to life then to be getting upset over a question. TO ANY ONE ELSE, WHO IS WILLING TO HELP ME - PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I am not trying to steal your secrets, or be lazy - I just wanted some advice that?s all. That?s it. I respect the individuals in the PR Field. All of you who are Senior and Executive PR Professionals - I respect you. I am working to be like you. I am not one trying to jump in the field and make you look bad. I want to continue to educate myself - That?s why I am here. :) |
| maphop | Posted – 2/7/2007 9:04:22 AM | show profile Up and Coming vs Naive I spend an extraordinary amount of time teaching and mentoring new writers and publicists and probably field three-four new emails or phone calls a day. It's one thing to be helpful and friendly and another to repeatedly see postings and receive requests from those purporting to be in the "PR" industry who don't have a clue as to what they're doing. Want a couple thousand media contacts and don't have the time or resources or chops to build them yourselves? Purchase a subscription to a media database for $6K/year. Want to learn creative ways to pitch stories? Spend 2-3 years working for an established PR firm - probably for $22-$30K a year - and learn the way the majority of successful publicists do. Invest a couple thousand $ a year to join professional groups and trade industry groups and take the speciality workshops and classes offered. Join the industry groups in your PR specialty area (in this case beauty and fashion) and cough up the dues to be a member. Spend hours each month the first few years perusing periodicals and industry pubs at the local library and at newsstands. Whether you're in Columbus, OH or NYC is immaterial to how you build a network, pitch a story or develop media leads. The bottom line here is that I have to say that I wasn't being intentionally rude when I opined that it must be a joke posting - I honestly thought it was a Jon Stewart-like parody of some of the other postings that have been put up in the last year basically asking the board to teach someone the most elemental components of a difficult career choice. Perhaps it was the wording and it wasn't as broad-based and vague as it came across but I have to agree with Cyrus on this. You would shake your head and think it was a joke if someone posted "I'm an up and coming singer with a microphone specializing in jazz; can someone tell me how to hit a note?" |
| Newpublicist | Posted – 2/7/2007 9:37:51 AM | show profile Thank you Mophap - for giving me that information Now will that people that want to answer it go ahead and for the people that don't or feel that it?s a dumb question you don't have to answer. By the way - future jazz singers - do ask how to hit a high note - they ask singing coaches. Thanks for the analogy. Now for those who want to answer - let me get directly to the point and tell you exactly what I want so that the other professionals don't get offended. Right now - I am currently working full time and I am doing publicity work in the evening part-time. I have done volunteer work, had 3 internships and I am in the process of looking for a full-time job. I am involved with three different professional organizations right now. I've come in contact with many media professionals and they have been wonderful with helping me with creative ideas. I have done work for some major TV Networks such as BET, MTV & VH-1. I have also done a ton of local stuff right here in Ohio. The issue is that since I live in Columbus, there are not alot of Fashion/Beauty Publications. I have two new clients that I am working with on a freelance basis - one is a fashion retailer and the other is a designer. I have been having a difficult time with getting press in major publications - Lucky, In Style, etc. I have gotten them press in the local papers here (Columbus Dispatch, CityScene, etc). It?s a bit more difficult to get press in larger scale publications. I don't know if the releases that I am using are in-effective, or of there is a different way to approach the media? I have researched many different publications that I want to target, but sometimes I get confused about which publication will give my clients the exposure that they need. |
| hawkmail | Posted – 2/7/2007 12:01:36 PM | show profile Re-read your original post Newpublicist, I am just pointing out that the original question was completely vague and made it sound as if you needed the most basic information. There is nothing mentioned here about your experience, networking, and what you've already tried. Had you been more specific in your first post the kind of advice/help you were seeking you might have had a very different response. |
| mkedave | Posted – 2/7/2007 2:59:22 PM | show profile if there was one single way to creatively pitch stories, it wouldn't be creative anymore. just an observation, but the beauty and fashion "pr" shovelers never seem to grasp what drives the client's business. |
| valentine | Posted – 2/8/2007 5:33:17 PM | show profile newpublicist In your last post, you stated that the releases you're sending might be ineffective or is there another way to pitch to the media? I'm hoping that you aren't sending releases without an actual pitch letter--one that details an actual ANGLE that the editor/writer would want to use. Why should the national, larger pubs care about your clients out of Columbus, OH? Maybe your pitch letter should focus on how their work into a larger fashion trend (for fashion pubs), how they're overcoming adversity or bootstrapped their way to success (for business pubs). And when you say getting the right exposure, have you discussed who exactly they're trying to reach? Are they trying to impress the fahion circle people to get investors or get any type of exposure to get in front of consumers? I'd reccomend surfing the Net to look for case studies of similar clients and how they took off. |
| pop | Posted – 2/14/2007 3:30:18 PM | show profile Hey, Newpublicist: go away. You're annoying. |
| df | Posted – 2/14/2007 5:52:23 PM | show profile maphop, cyrus, thanks for saying what you are saying. might I add finally? PR is not rocket science, but a business and just like any other business you have to learn it. preferably not on boards, but with full time employment in a larger agency and hopefully an appropriate education. And please, all you wanna be publicist go away. its not easy, its not fun, its not social. its hard work, experience and lots of effort. At least if you are a Public Relations professional. please note the difference to a publicist. We see all those up and coming posts here all the time, I meet people at network functions and they are all hope and dreams. until they actually have to land a client, successfully pitch a story and retain a satisfied client. Please, if it would be that easy, wouldn't everyone do it? |
| mediahoney | Posted – 2/19/2007 5:47:47 PM | show profile | email poster Here are some tips for you Newpublicist. Newpub, I understand what you are asking. I've been there myself. You've been given some really good advice and some really awful advice here. Cyrus and maphop are always giving good advice, but I think sometimes people just feel like they're doing all the work and others are just asking how to get by quicker. I've been a new publicist looking for answers, so here's some advice. 1. Stop posting beginner questions on this board. Check the archives first. Never ask other publicist for media contacts. Media contacts are easy to get.....it's media relationship that are hard to come by. These have to be built up over time. 2. Do some research first. By that I mean pick up some books that are chock full of the info you are looking for: Publicity for Dummies (don't worry I started out with this one). 6 Steps to Free Publicity Full Frontal PR 3. Go to Joan Stewart's site: The Publicity Hound, www.publicityhound.com - She has amazing info there. A lot of it is free and the rest is very cheap. She's dead on with all of her advice and I found it very helpful when I was just starting out. 4. I think most new publicist are scared to contact journalists. Don't be. Do your research, craft a targeted pitch letter and followup without being a PIA. It just takes practice and don't be pushy. 5. Here's another great resource Bulldog Reporter email newsletter and Daily Dog Blog. Both are free and have lots of info. Stay focused on what you need to do to make yourself a better communicator. It's not rock science but it takes work. Good Luck with what you're doing. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 2/19/2007 7:37:27 PM | show profile | email poster Cyrus is known for being generous with good advice. Suggest you narrow down your inquiries here so it doesn't appear you're trying to get a whole handbook full of information. Broad queries asking for a wide field of information don't generally do well on mediabistro because, for one thing, it's overwhelming to the people trying to help -- like "Where do we START?" or "Do you have all day for an answer?" |
| writesonwater | Posted – 2/19/2007 7:48:05 PM | show profile | email poster mediahoney has given some GREAT advice, it looks like to me. I take back what I said that you can't get a whole handbook of info in one answer. ;) |
