We are all bombarded with more material than we can possibly read. So what makes us notice some articles and bypass so many others? Often it’s the headline. Here are some ways to write effective feature headlines. I’ve included some examples, with the occasional explanatory note. Homonyms Use a homonym (a word that sounds the […]
What Do Journalists Want?
#108130112 / gettyimages.com Why is it so hard to connect with journalists? Why don’t they respond? Why don’t they “buy” my pitch? In short, what do they want anyway? Many PR pros have asked themselves these and similar questions for years. In many ways, it’s easier than ever to get to know journalists, because […]
Newspaper Bloopers
One of my favorite books is “The Revenge of Anguish English” by Richard Lederer. Here are some newspapers bloopers taken from that publication. The state board of fisheries is considering whether to impose seasonal catch limits on tourists. Queen Elizabeth arrived in Paris to begin a visit that inspired the warmest welcome the French have […]
Who Can You Trust?
Fully 75 percent of Americans think news organizations generally don’t get the facts right, according to Pew Research. Two-thirds (66 percent) say stories are often inaccurate–a new high–and almost 75 percent believe that journalists try to cover up their mistakes. Julia Moos discusses these statistics in her article, “Pew: 75 percent of Americans Say Press […]
Thoughts on the Murdock Saga
Watching the Murdock saga unfold is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know something awful has happened. And you suspect it will get worse before it gets better. In case you’ve been on another planet the last few days, here is a short summary. Media tycoon Rupert Murdock has closed down the […]
Vocus “State of the Media 2010”: Newspapers
Here is the second in my reports about the Vocus “State of the Media 2010” webinar (http://tinyurl.com/ybglakz) and accompanying white paper (http://www.vocus.com/state-of-the-media/index.asp). Here are some highlights of their report about newspapers. I have already reported on magazines and will report on broadcast media in subsequent blog posts. In 2009, 293 newspapers folded, nearly 100 of […]
