Publicity tips/Grade John Edwards' Interview Aug 12, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #411 Aug. 12, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

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In This Issue
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1. Grade John Edwards' Interview

2. Airlines Keeping Inflight Magazines

3. Time Running Out for Gift Guides

4. Publicity Summit Deadline Tomorrow

5. Promoting a Website for Musicians

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

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1. Grade John Edwards' Interview
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Put politics aside for a minute.

If you saw the interview that ABC's "Nightline" did with former
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday night,
tell us how you think he did from a PR standpoint.

I don't care if you think "he's only human" or that cheating on
his wife was "despicable."

Was the interview convincing? Will it put an end to this story?
Did his answers come across as honest? Was he justified in not
answering certain questions? ("Did you ever tell her that you
loved her?")

I'm asking because opinions from crisis counselors and other PR
pros seem to be all over the map. Crisis counselor Jonathan
Bernstein says on his blog:

"I think John Edwards did one heck of a job of 'packaging' his
confession of infidelity in a manner that will quickly put the
issue behind him--as long as there are no other skeletons in the
closet..."

PR guy Jerry Brown says he thinks Edwards blew it.

"He left at least two big loose ends that promise to keep the
story alive awhile longer:

"He offered to take a paternity test to prove Hunter's child
isn't his, but the test hasn't taken place and the mother says
there won't be one. That will keep the story alive awhile longer
and, without a paternity test, there will always be lingering
doubts. Out of Edwards' control? Perhaps. But he's had several
months to work on this issue.

"Hunter reportedly has received payments for some period of time,
up to $15,000 a month according to one report that claims the
payments were hush money to keep her quiet. Edwards says he
didn't make any payments to Hunter and that any payments that
were made were without his knowledge. If she was paid, who made
the payments, and why, promises to keep the story alive. If any
laws were broken, the story could become decidedly worse."

Hounds, what do you think? Weigh in at my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/58xg9x

P. S. Notice when the story broke: on a Friday. That's the best
day to break a bad news story. Did it work in Edwards' favor
that it also was the same day as opening ceremonies at the
Olympics?

Jonathan Bernstein, quoted above, knows every trick in the book
on how to deal with the media when the news is bad. And he
described his favorites during a teleseminar I hosted on "How to
Keep the Media Wolves at Bay." We recorded it, and it's
available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can be
reading as soon as your order is approved.

Learn how to keep the media wolves at bay at
http://tinyurl.com/b8wcy


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2. Airlines Keeping Inflight Magazines
============================================

With additional fees for everything from extra luggage to
blankets and pillows, you'd think those glossy in-flight
magazines would be one of the first things to go as the airlines
cut expenses.

Not so, say major carriers.

The magazines provide much-needed advertising revenue. That's
good news for Publicity Hounds who are trying to target higher-
income, higher-educated audiences with their pitches.

Thanks to Publicity Hound Gail Sideman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
for tipping us off to this article in USA Today, which discusses
all the reasons the magazines will remain, at least in the near
future: http://tinyurl.com/5puvbx

Do you know the kinds of products and services these magazines
love to feature? Do you know which magazines feature books and
which don't? Do you know how to deliver your pitches, and to
whom? Are you aware of the many smaller magazines on smaller
airlines that are just as open to your pitches as the bigger
publications?

If not, "Special Report #29: Fly High with Publicity in the
Inflight Magazines" will tell you. It includes pitching tips,
plus contact information for more than 40 inflight magazines.
Buy the report, only $37, today and you'll get our October 2008
update at no additional charge.

Learn more about how to start reaching these airline passengers
with a high disposable income today at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


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3. Time Running Out for Gift Guides
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If your consumer product would make a terrific holiday gift, pay
attention to a looming deadline.

At many magazines, which have long lead times for their holiday
gift guides, you must have your product in the hands of editors
by Labor Day weekend. That's because within the next few weeks,
many editors will decide which products they'll feature in those
sections.

Elizabeth Woodson, associate editor at Travel + Leisure, told
Bulldog Reporter that they're already planning their holiday gift
guide. "The point is to get stuff to us early. That means now,"
she said.

Also, if you want to get into gift guides, don't use the same
strategy you use for getting into other sections of newspapers or
magazines. Usually, journalists don't want to be inundated with
unsolicited products and accompanying press releases and photos.
They want you to pitch first. Then, and only then, will they
decide if they're interested. If they are, they'll contact you
and ask for a product sample.

Gift guide editors, however, need products early so they can
decide which ones they'll include in the sections. In most
cases, you can send products unsolicited.

Read more pitching tips in this Bulldog Reporter article:
http://tinyurl.com/5js8hp

Then read more about The Gift List, a subscription service that
provides contact information, story themes, product features,
deadlines, submission preferences, photo requirements and tips
from the editors at more than 250 top daily newspapers, news
wires and syndicates, national television, and national radio, as
well as a list for web and blog outlets.

Get started pitching gift guides BEFORE their deadline at
http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


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4. Publicity Summit Deadline Tomorrow
=======================================

Whenever readers see me discussing the National Publicity Summit
in New York City, a few Hounds email me and ask if I can point to
any success stories about people who have gotten great publicity
hits as a result of meeting face-to-face with journalists.

Yep.

- -Ron & Lisa Beres were booked on the "Today" show.

- -Steve Shapiro was the subject of a big story in "O the Oprah
Magazine" after meeting the writer who attended the Summit.

- -Lauri Loewenberg appeared on ABC's "The View" and "Good
Morning America."

- -Jim Vonmier got on the "CBS Evening News" and "The Early Show"
as a result of the training and contacts he got at the Summit.

- -Kelly McCloskey used what she learned to get booked on
"Oprah."

- -Barry Spilchuk was interviewed on Fox News Channel within just
five hours of meeting the producer at the Summit.

- -Sandy Clemmons got written up in Health Magazine, Money
magazine and TV Guide--all from meeting journalists face-to-face.
Even better, she says that since attending, her royalty checks
have increased over 700 percent.

Only 100 attendees will be admitted to this year's summit Oct.
22-25. Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of the early-
bird pricing. Go here now to sign up for a free info packet that
tells you more about what you'll see, hear and learn--and who
you'll meet--at the National Publicity Summit:

http://www.NationalPublicitySummit.com/?10011


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5. Promoting a Website for Musicians
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This week, 10 Publicity Hound have tips on how Kevin Gardiner of
Tolland, Connecticut can raise awareness of his website at
http://www.TuneRooms.com to musicians ages 13 and up.


From Jonathan Bernstein:

"Write articles in your field of expertise and then 'place' them
on some of the scores of websites which catalog such articles for
use by other sites. That has been invaluable to my SEO effort."


From Christine Buffaloe:

"I work with a client who is a musician and author. She has a
wonderful page on MySpace.com and has created a following there.
These are the people you should be targeting. Start a MySpace
page. There's a place there just for bands and musicians."


From Jennifer Lizak:

"Reach out to your local music industry professionals, introduce
them to the concept, and hold an event or showcase.

"Hit up the music blogs--Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, Oh My
Rockness.

"Reach out to college freshmen. Did their high school band break
up when they went to different colleges? Perhaps your service
will allow them to keep the band together!"


The Publicity Hound says:

Kevin, start your own Facebook group for songwriters and
musicians. My teleseminar series this week on "How to Use
Facebook to Promote Your Business or Nonprofit" sounds perfect
for you. It's sold out, but sign up anyway. Even though you
can't attend the live event, I'll send you the MP3 audio links
and the electronic transcripts. Register at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at
http://tinyurl.com/6fgxc9


Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state.


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6. Help This Hound
==================================

Larry Richards of Raleigh, North Carolina asks:

"Where can an author get accurate information about the many book
clubs and book discussion groups that exist in the U.S.?

"My book is titled The Blind Prophet, one of six books in my
Invisible War series, and it's a story about angels and demons.
It should be published the first of the year."

"Somebody suggested offering a free review book to the person
from these groups who selects the novels. But I can't find a
list anywhere. Can your Publicity Hounds help me?

The Publicity Hound says:

They sure can, Larry. Many authors and publishers read this
newsletter, and I know they'll be able to offer lots of
suggestions. OK, Hounds. Let's hear it. Where can Larry find a
list of book clubs, reading groups and other groups that might
want a free copy of his book? (Other publicity ideas will be
gladly accepted, too.)

Post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/68xzx6


Send your own Help This Hound question to
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?=HelpThisHound


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7. Hound Joke of the Week
==================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Burgundy Olivier of Rayne, Louisiana
for this one:

What does a man do standing up...and a woman do sitting
down...and a dog do on three legs?

Shake hands.


DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/


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8. And at My Blog...
================================

Pompous elevator pitches turn off reporters and others
http://tinyurl.com/6dft25


Newspaper food sections shrinking, so pitch wisely
http://tinyurl.com/6mdq9q


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Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine
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Joan Stewart
a. k.a. The Publicity Hound®
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737