Publicist Asks Bill Keller About the ‘Circuitous’ Nature ‘NYT’ Ledes

Last night, I went to a New York Press Club event featuring a Q&A moderated by NPR’s Brooke Gladstone and featuring The New York Times’ executive editor Bill Keller. It was a pretty good event filled with interesting tidbits of info (which I highlight with Chris O’Shea at FishbowlNY), lengthy questions from the audience, and pieces of unidentifiable meat on the refreshment table.

Since publicists also do a lot of writing, it was fitting that a publicist (and NY Press Club member) asked Keller if there was some sort of policy about writing long, “circuitous” ledes.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve urged reporters and editors to get to the goddamn point,” said Keller. Same could be said for pitches and press releases.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.