Pitches

Since its launch in 2004, Inked magazine”s original mission remains intact – to create a high-end entertainment and fashion magazine built around tattoo culture.

As a men’s lifestyle book, Inked wants the basics: fashion, booze, car, art. But make sure to dial the focus on to tattoos. ”People who don’t know Inked might think it’s just a bunch of pictures of tattoos where that’s not true,” says editor Rocky Rakovic. “Just think of us like Maxim plus tattoos.”

In this ”How To Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro finds out just how going from pitch to publish is a collaborative effort at this glossy. If your client has a connection to the world of tats, learn how the editors will work with you to craft your story.

Click here to read on. [sub req'd] Not an Avant Guild member? Click here for more info.

Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.

TheDailyMeal.com launched in January 2011, raised $6 million in funding by August, was reaching two million readers by the end of the first year, and has expanding to include an e-commerce offering through a partnership with Cooking.com.

“We want publicists to understand our mission: harvesting the delicious and discarding the mundane, being the friend on the inside, delivering a fresh take on dining news and trends, discovering and reporting with a sense of fun and curiosity,” says Valaer Murray, managing editor of the site. Did you get all that?

In the latest “How to Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro gets the scoop about getting your story in front of The Daily Meal audience. Editors are looking for a wide range of pitches, but there are a few things you might want to keep in mind before sending over your idea.

Click here to read on. [sub req'd] Not an Avant Guild member? Click here for more info.

After 109 years, Popular Mechanics is still about science and technology, though the science and technology have changed greatly.

Still deputy editor Jerry Beilinson says Popular Mechanics is a general interest magazine covering everything from plumbing to outer space. Actually, stories that help homeowners are among those that the magazine’s editors seek most from publicists.

In today’s “How to Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro talks with Popular Mechanics about how best to communicate with the magazine and what stories are most appropriate.

“It’s a really broad subject matter with a coherent world view,” he says.

Click here for more info. [sub req'd]

The AP has released its guide to the list of words and phrases that will be popular during this holiday season. The Associated Press notes that some of the terms come from the Stylebook and others from its own stories, in case you’re checking. Among the items of note for PR pros looking to pitch holiday stories:

Hanukkah: Eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights starting Dec. 20 this year.

Christmastime: One word.

Kriss Kringle: Not Kris. Derived from the German word, Christkindl, or baby Jesus.

regifting: Passing along an unwanted present to someone else.

Xmas: Don’t use this abbreviation for Christmas.

[via AP]

Homeowners looking for practical information about remodeling and maintenance projects, finances, and housing issues can turn to HouseLogic.com, a publication by the National Association of REALTORS®. Reaching 156,000 unique visitors monthly, the site has sought to make a name with consumers wanting to make the most of their home, which is usually an owner’s biggest asset.

“…[W]e don’t do product reviews; we don’t cover decor,” content manager Christina Hoffmann tells Mediabistro in this week’s “How to Pitch for PR” feature.

However, the site is looking to build relationships with publicists who have a relevant pitch for them. To learn more about what stories will work for HouseLogic.com, click here. [sub req'd]

Metropolis has grown and evolved over its 25-year history, but has always focused on architecture and design in a way that appeals to those who don’t necessarily have a college degree in the subject. The magazine covers everything from social issues, politics, and technology, all tied to the world of design.

And key to every pitch are photos. “We always need to see some kind of visuals before deciding if a story is right for the magazine, so photos are essential,” says managing editor managing editor Mason Currey.

In this week’s “How to Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro digs deep for tips and info about Metropolis. For more info, including an editorial calendar and what not to pitch, click here. [sub req'd]

Lots of women have babies and a good number of them don’t know what to do with those babies once they’re in the house. Can it sleep in a drawer? Can it wear my old hand-me-downs? Does it like oysters or peanut butter sandwiches? What’s with the crying?

That’s where American Baby comes in. Reaching two million readers monthly, the magazine targets young, new moms with info about baby’s first year. And they want pitches for products, celebs, fashion, and more.

Check out Mediabistro’s latest “How to Pitch for PR” feature for tips on what to pitch to American Baby, when to pitch, and who to pitch. Click here for more. [sub req'd]

Lots of people are taking their nuptials on the road, choosing a dream destination to say “I do.” Destination Weddings & Honeymoons launched just as this trend was picking up in 2002. And now, 25 percent of weddings are of the destination variety.

In the latest “How to Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro gets the lowdown on how to pitch this publication. Editors rely on publicists to share info about venues, activities, and services. Moreover, with so little real estate in traditional wedding pubs dedicated to honeymoons, this is the place for pitches on that topic as well.

With 25 percent of pitches accepted, this could be the perfect place to send your story idea about the perfect place for a wedding. Click here for more info. [sub req'd]

Current and former athletes are the hottest tickets for sports media outlets. Sports stars’ extracurricular activities, such as competing on Dancing with the Stars, are sought after stories, along with business news like endorsement deals. And if they are big enough names, these sports celebs can also use the media exposure to promote the many causes they support.

These were a few of the tips from a sports media panel held earlier this week by the PRSA’s New York chapter. The participants also offered their take on the competition, including social media, as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse at their jobs.

Apparently it’s not all fun and games on their side of the field… or is it?

Read more

The name speaks for itself: Runner’s World focuses on issues and topics of interest to those who enjoy running. However, the number of issues and topics that apply to this group has steadily grown since David Wille became EIC in 2004. While “training and fitness” are still important, executive editor Charlie Butler says, stories covering “the nutrition area… long-form stories and profiles” are also published.

In this latest “How to Pitch for PR” feature, Mediabistro takes a closer look at how to get your clients into Runner’s World, which has a circulation of 660,000 and publishes monthly. It’s tough to get a hit in the magazine, but the editors rely on PR pros for info and story ideas. Click here for more. [sub req'd]