Editor's Note: This site, which launched in the spring of 1996, is attracting 1 million visitors a month. The site does focus on women's issues exclusively, but it has a far more serious slant than some other women-oriented publications or undertakings. You should find a parade of PR ways to nuzzle up to these content providers since news varies from exploring controversies (i.e, proposed laws concerning insurance coverage for mammographies) to office politics.
| SECTIONS | EDITORS | DAYS TO CONTACT/ DAYS TO AVOID | METHODS | COMMENTS |
| News/Features Each day features three headline news stories and coverage varies from reports about managing small business to issues being tackled in the mainstream media - for instance, what's hot on the networks or being covered by the major wire services. There are also special features that run on this weekly schedule: Monday, books (a Q&A with an author of a non-fiction work); Tuesday, personal finance (an advice column); Wednesday, health; Thursday, business (the gamut runs from information about loans to how women run their own companies); Friday, "Work/Life" column; and Saturday, art. | Editor: Angelia Herrin Phone: 703/556-9662 E-mail: [email protected] Mailing address: 8260 Greensboro Dr. Suite 200 A McLean, Va. 22102 | You can reach Herrin in the a.m. or p.m., but keep in mind these two time restrictions: she leaves early on Friday and she doesn't want any calls on Monday unless they're urgent. Herrin is working with a two-day lead time and is especially looking for suggestions and pitches for the personal finance column (Herrin will consider a well-rounded, well-researched and well-penned piece ghost written by a PR professional). | E-mail's her first choice. Snail mail comes in second (obviously, it's the best avenue when your idea needs visual/graphic elements and when you're forwarding a fair amount of info. - company background, source/resource list, data, chronology of events). | Based on our visiting this site, we think one tack that may guarantee your coverage is adding a real-life perspective or a taste of tenacity: One Work/Life column was titled: "Do You Have to Be a Bitch to Get Ahead?" "PR people need to understand that we're not for the twenty-something generation and we're not Cosmo," says Herrin. "We don't want fashion news and we don't want recipes, although we will look at material that focuses on family [not just women's] issues. A soft-feature lead won't get my attention but a survey will." |
| Work/Life This week's column is about the "Mommy Track." If you want to get a jumpstart on pitches that can be precisely honed for future columns, upcoming topics include time management; the glass ceiling for women in technology; and tips on getting different age groups to work together. | Work/Life Columnist & Communtiy Development Director: Julia Wilkinson Phone: 703/768-6173 E-mail: [email protected] | Wilkinson works out of her home and says her schedule is ultra flexible. But don't try to call her on Monday because she heads into the office for weekly staff meetings. Info. should come her way at least several days before the publishing date and a week at the most. | Wilkinson prefers e-mail, but she'll also take your calls. So far, she's in the Top 5 when it comes to welcoming calls from PR folks. Trust us: she's a rare bird. | Wilkinson is nearly chomping at the bit to get PR tidbits from you, but don't forget your PR manners. Because this is content geared toward working women, and molded for an online environment, you need to think outside the box. We recommend that you follow the site for several weeks and then envision how your idea fits in. |
Contacts at Women's Connection
Main Number - 703/556-9662
Susan Williams DeFife, CEO and Founder [email protected],Ext. 100
Gary LaFever, Senior Vice President, Development and Operations [email protected], Ext. 102
Angelia Herrin, Executive Editor [email protected], Ext. 103
Janice Orcutt, Director of Information Technology [email protected], Ext. 104
Julia Wilkinson, Community Development Director [email protected], Ext. 105 or 703/768-6173
Juliette Tracey Goldman, Director of Development and Outreach [email protected], ext. 102
Michele Woodward, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
mtwoodward@ aol.com, ext. 106
Director of Marketing To Be Announced, ext. 105