Houston Chronicle
801 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-2996
Section editors at the Houston Chronicle proves Texas charm still exists and that they are interested in improving the relationship between PR and journalism. The publication offers outlets for stories with a national angle in its food, religion, travel and fashion sections, and local stories in news and lifestyles. You'll find at the Chronicle that editors tend to return phone calls or e-mail more frequently than other publications. (Reader profile: 24% ages 35-44; 19% ages 25-34; HHI, 15% make less than $25,000, 26% make more than $75,000; 80% white; 13% Hispanic; 16% African American).
SECTIONS
Features: This 16-part section includes articles on entertainment, food, health, garden and religion. The editors reject pitches on anniversary, ground breaking or ribbon cuttings. Articles with a national flair can be found in the food section (Wednesdays) and religion and travel (Sundays).
EDITORS/LEAD TIME
Managing Editor, Susan Bischoff, Phone: 713/220-7375; Lead Time: two weeks
METHODS
E-mail is the best way to contact editors because daily deadlines make it difficult to return phone calls. And the deluge of faxes causes lost pages and jams. Snail mail also is acceptable.
COMMENTS
Pitch to the section editors in the feature department (listed below). Bischoff says if your client has an event that's free or inexpensive, it's sure to get coverage in the "Previews" part of the entertainment section. Some stories originated by pitches include a cover story on the first graduating class of a performing arts school, and a feature on "Bayou Place," a new multimedia complex in Houston.
SECTIONS
Business: Includes features on real estate, energy, personal finance, taxes, legal and contract issues. On Fridays, the technology section runs, covering trends and current events in the industry.Editor, Business and Technology
EDITORS/LEAD TIME
Scott Clark, Fax: 713/220-7273, Phone: 713/220-6872; Lead Time: depends on news: if urgent, one week. Otherwise, as much as possible
METHODS
Faxing is acceptable for urgent stories, but Clark says don't fax a reporter or editor unless you have spoken to them. Pitch stories to individual reporters/editors (listed below) by snail mail or e-mail. Best contact time is between 10 a.m. and noon.
COMMENTS
Clark says this section evaluates stories by news value, and even though PR executives follow the Chronicle's protocol, the story may not get published. A recent story covered a new approach, used by phone companies to restructure area codes, that may cause one customer to have a different code than his/her next door neighbor.
Editorial Contacts at the Houston Chronicle
Main Number: 713/220-7171
Pamela Yip, Banking Writer, 713/220-6834
Charles Boisseau, Business Reporter, 713/220-7207
L.M. Sixel, Economy Writer, 713/220-6642
Hillary Durgin, Energy Reporter, 713/220-7534
Melanie Markley, Education Reporter, 713/220-6682
Melissa Ward Aquilar, Entertainment Editor, 713/220-6894