CXO Media Inc.
492 Old Connecticut Path
P.O. Box 9208
Framingham, MA 01701-9208
508.872.0080
http://www.cio.com
The Wind Up
CIO wears its embrace of PR on its sleeve or, to be more exact, right in the front of the book. It periodically runs a full page of editorial contacts -- providing details on
reporters' various beats -- that is specifically targeted to PR professionals. (There is also a full staff listing on CIO's Web site.) "We want them to be able to find the right
person," says CIO Editor in Chief Abbie Lundberg. "Our process is different than other publications."
And how. In another effort to minimize frustration within the PR field, CIO distributes a monthly e-mail blast that alerts PR execs on the kinds of stories the biweekly is
currently working on, the stages they're in and whether any of them need input from outside sources. (For more info on the PR e-mail blast, contact Julie Hanson at [email protected]). Editorial follows the macro economic trends concerning CIOs. For the last two years the publication has been focused on how
chief information officers -- from both IT management and the corporate ranks -- have been cost cutting to deal with a downward economy. But with the economy starting to rebound,
CIO (140,000 circulation) is starting to do more stories on productivity and growth strategies and fewer stories on all the cuts. "CIOs are getting out of that hunker-down mode
and are pushing into areas that support growth and new opportunities," Lundberg says.
The magazine doesn't bother with the minutia of IT and instead tackles broader stories concerning supply chain, supply chain management, computer integration and customer
interaction. Although the publication covers the entire nexus between IT and the economy, its bread-and-butter is four sectors: financial services, manufacturing, transportation
and government. "We're looking for management-focused topics and what the trend means for CIOs," Lundberg says, adding that CIO is not a technology title, but a "business magazine
aimed at a technology-focused audience." CIO dates back to 1987, when it was the maiden product launch for CXO Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of technology publishing powerhouse
IDG Corp.
The Pitch
Lundberg recommends at least three months out to pitch feature stories. To play it safe, however, give four or even five months lead time so if the publication bites, there's
more time to nail down the details. CIO's reporters prefer to be initially contacted via e-mail. (See contacts.) The magazine is not driven by products and services but, rather,
what's behind them, and this requires going the extra mile. "The pitch to us is not about the product but the business problems and challenges the CEO faces," Lundberg says. "The
product and service is an important part of the story, but not the focal point."
Recent features include the botched CRM upgrade that cost AT&T Wireless thousands of new customers and an estimated $100 million in lost revenue; a profile on British
Petroleum CIO John Leggate and his mantra of integration; the reunion of CIOs and venture capitalists following a long, dry season and a book review on how to put your customers
to work. Articles from CIOs are encouraged, particularly for the book's Peer-to-Peer section, which is written by (and for) CIOs. There are two regular features that could provide
solid media vehicles for PR pros: Trendlines, which includes subsections By the Numbers (data, IT benchmarks) and Washington Watch (the nexus between IT and government), and
Essential Technology, which runs stories on existing technologies and, during more prosperous times, emerging technologies.
The magazine occasionally does CIO profiles, but on those executives who are doing things differently and can share with readers examples of best practices in critical business
areas. "PR knows we want case studies, stories that break new ground or present CEOs with a new set of challenges," Lundberg says.
CIO Contacts
Scott Berinato
[email protected]
Beat: security, privacy, vendor management
Alice Dragoon
[email protected]
Beat: CRM; travel, leisure & entertainment industries
Christopher Koch
[email protected]
Beat: B2B ecommerce; B2B manufacturing industry; IT architecture; open source
Meridith Levinson
[email protected]
Beat: B2C ecommerce; retail industry
Christopher Lindquist
[email protected]
Beat: emerging technology; web services
Stephanie Overby
[email protected]
Beat: sourcing & staffing; outsourcing; transportation industry
Megan Santosus
[email protected]
Beat: B2C manufacturing industry; knowledge management
Elana Varon
[email protected]
Beat: financial services industry; public policy; web services
Ben Worthen
[email protected]
Beat: ERP/supply chain; public policy; wireless
For all other beats and departments, go to http://www.cio.com/staff/index.html
To get on the mailing list for CIO's PR newsletter, which includes information about upcoming stories, contact Julie Hanson, [email protected]