Dec
21
Blogging Tip: How to Get Your Blog into Pulp … the Newspaper
ByI really like Penelop Trunk’s tips on getting your blog mentioned in the newspaper (or print media).
These 5 tips, in particular, could also be used for any press release your church wants to send to a media outlet …. I added my comments after:
- Don’t pitch yourself, pitch an idea - This was the one tip I found to be “perspective changing” — even as a former journalist. She’s right on with this one!
- Pitch an idea with the print audience in mind – Keyword here is “their” audience, not yours. Make it beneficial to them and their readers.
- Tailor the idea to the journalist - Similar to No. 2, but don’t pitch a “church” story to the city reporter who covers crime. Find the appropriate editor. Also, if it’s a hot tip, give them the “scoop.”
- Answer questions strategically – Also, prepare for any questions they may have. Write them down, bullet point your answers and rehearse with your wife or assistant. Be smooth.
- Be available – Yes, yes, yes! Give them an all-access pass — yes, your cell phone and your home phone. Maybe even your parents cell too!
Hey, thanks for linking to my post. When I was looking around your blog it ocurred to me that a good model for how to pitch a church or religious teachings to the mainstream media is the press for the new book, “The Mormon Way of Doing Business.”
The publicist for that book pitched it to me in a way that made me think that the religious teachings were relevant to my very secular topics. For example, the book talks about how to get to the top of corporate life while still making time for family dinners every night.
Penelope, that has to be the quickest reply I’ve ever gotten to a post!
Your comments/suggestions are excellent. Of course, we in the evangelical church believe the Bible (i.e. God) has much to say about all walks of life … we just have a hard time saying it sometimes.
Blessings to you for your excellent post! I hope to use those ideas and these soon. Merry Christmas!
–Cory