435 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60611-4003; General Phone: 312/222-3232; News Phone: 312/222-3540
Editor's Note: Even though this traditionalist media outlet's main focus is news with a Midwestern twist, these journalists want to know what's happening nationwide as well as overseas. As journalists go, these reporters and editors are down-to-earth and willing to provide some quick coaching to help ensure that when it comes to putting on your pitching cap, you're on target.
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Features News under this ctegory comes in a variety of forms - food and restaurant reviews; gardening tips; a focus on new homes and interior decorating; lifestyle issues, including youth-related topics; medical and health reporting; and science and sports. |
| EDITORS | Associate Managing Editor: Janet Franz; Senior Editor: Brenda Butler (also handles fashion for now); Food Editor: Carol Haddix; Womanews Editor: Marla Krause; Children/Youth Editor: Devin Rose; Home Editor: Elaine Matsushita. Dept. Fax: 312/222-0236 |
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Production days vary for these editors: For Food, it's Monday; for Home, it's Wednesday; for Womanews, it's Thursday and for fashion and children's news, it's generally at the end of the week although production days rotate. |
| METHODS | Franz says most editors at the Chicago Tribune prefer getting news and pitches by mail or fax since there isn't one e-mail system that's used by all (some writers depend on AOL at home) while most staffers use at work cc mail, which isn't accessed by all editors and reporters on a regular basis. |
| COMMENTS | "People can call us, but because we're always thinking about deadlines and dealing with copy and reporters, it's best if you give it to us in writing," says Franz. Also, she says that only about 5 percent of the hundreds of pieces of mail Chicago Tribune journalists sift through every week provide a hot tip or a lead worth pursuing. |
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Sunday Travel Column Travel news touches on everything from fantasy to practicality. You'll find ideas for family getaways or B&B stays. |
| EDITORS | Travel Editor: Randy Curwen; Fax: 312/222-0236 |
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Don't make a pitch on Tuesday - that's production day. And the rest of the week, according to Curwen, is "hit or miss." His advice: Don't expect on the first or second shot to get an editor or reporter. |
| METHODS | The best method to make a pitch is by fax or mail. And Curwen "doesn't encourage calls" unless they're to notify him of breaking news, alert him to an error the paper might duplicate or to give him a real scoop."I thumb through releases quickly and then 90 percent of them are trashed," Curwen says. |
| COMMENTS | "In the 17 or 18 years I've been doing this, I can't think of any specific PR pitches which stand out, but I can tell you the best ones were those that came in just when I needed them - providing the key element I wanted." |