Media Insight - PRNEWS

Editor's Note: We're not exaggerating when we tell you that out of the dozens of newsrooms, broadcast centers and TV production boutiques we've attempted to gain entree, that this bunch (the paper has a daily ciruclation of 234,300 and a Sunday circulation of 505,900) was among the easiest to reach and engage in conversation about what they need to make their lives easier. (What so many of you continue to ignore is that if you make an editor, producer or reporter's job tougher, not easier, you're burning, not building, bridges.) What these journalists want is timely, direct and appropriately angled material. It's that simple.

Seattle Times

P.O. Box 70

Seattle, Wash. 98111-0070;
Phone: 206/464-2200

KEY:
Sections
Editors
Days to Contact/Days to Avoid
Methods
Comments

Business

The focus here is news and snippets about what's happening in the northwest corridor of the state and articles are about as trendy as they come: some recent pieces included labor questions "coming to a head" at US Airways, and Netscape and Microsoft reviving their browser wars.

Assistant Business Editor

Carol Pucci

Fax: 206/382-8879

Pucci says there really aren't any good or bad days; however, you don't want to call in the a.m. or up until early afternoon since this is an evening paper and your pitch will be given as much attention as - oh, let's say - Marv Albert hosting a sexual harassment symposium.

Pucci wants faxes or news via snail mail and she frowns upon those of you who resort to cold calls and follow-up calls. Pitches need to go to her - so she can farm them out - or to the appropriate reporter or writer but never to Business Editor Robert Weisman.

Sometimes we feel like we're telling you folks the same thing over and over but here we go again: follow-up calls annoy many editors and Pucci's one of them. "If we're interested, we'll assign the story to a reporter and you'll hear from us," Pucci says. She also warns against these missteps: don't invite them to cover an event the day of the event (allow at least a week's lead time) and don't send a pitch that doesn't have a local angle.

High-tech & Telecom

News here falls under these general categories: updates or issues about the traditional and wireless communications industries; the Internet; and new computer software info. and profiles.

Reporter: Tom Haines

Fax: 206/382-8879

Haines works a typical 9-5 (Pacific Time) day but echoes what Pucci says: it's not wise to call in the morning or early afternoon. Like Pucci, Haines doesn't want cold or follow-up calls since he already sifts through as many as 30 to 40 faxes every day. His weeks are unpredictable - sometimes he's working on a 50-inch story and other times he's putting together four or five shorter stories. Haines is willing to think outside the box when it comes to PR and accept that what you do is far more than just sending out jazzy press kits (at the Seattle Times, the fun ones will get you some laughs but probably not ink): "What's most useful from a PR person is when they give us contact to key execs or key people," he reminds. "And be straightforward - let us know up front what it's all about."

Editorial Contacts at The Seattle Times

Main Number - 206/464-2111

Execs:

Michael Fancher - Executive Editor - 206/464-2230

Carole Carmichael - Assist. Managing Editor - 206/464-3116

Robert Weisman - Business News Editor - 206/464-8247

Business Reporters:

Michele Matassa Flores - 206/464-8343

Tom Haines - 206/464-2537

Greg Heberlein - 206/464-2267

Stanley Holmes - 206/464-2732

Sports:

Cathy Henkel - Editor - 206/464-8278

Editorial/Opinion:

Mindy Cameron - Editor - 206/464-2773

O. Casey Corr - Reporter - 206/464-2275

Metro Desk:

Jacqui Banaszynski - Senior Story Editor - 425/464-8212

David Boardman - AME/Investigations & Special Projects, 206/464-2205

Arlene Bryant - East Side Editor - 425/453-2412

John de Leon - Assist. Local Editor - 206/464-2204

Reporters:

Paul Andrews - Technology - 206/464-2360

Warren King - Medical - 206/464-2247

Pacific:

Kathy Andrisevic - Editor, Pacific - 206/464-2283

Hugo Kugiya - Reporter - 206/464-2276

News Desk:

Alford Margaret - National Editor - 206/464-8251

Rob Davila - Foreign Editor - 206/464-2730

Joan Deutsch - Local News Editor - 206/464-2214

Leon Espinoza - Night News Editor - 206/464-2213

Reporters:

Paula Bock - 206/464-2354

Mary Elizabeth Cronin - 206/464-2246

Ferdinand de Leon - 206/464-2204

Carey Quan Gelernter - 206/464-2218

Eastside:

Reporters:

Tyrone Beason - 206/464-2251

Keith Ervin - 206/515-5632

Tom Fuller - Sports, 206/464-2576

North Zone:

Bill Kossen - Bureau Editor - 425/745-6756

Reporters:

Diane Brooks - 425/745-7810

Steve Clutter - 425/946-3986

Travel:

John MacDonald - Editor - 206/464-2244

Kristin Jackson - Reporter - 206/464-2271

D.C. Bureau:

James Grimaldi - Reporter - 206/546-4700

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