Part 3 of 3
Most reporters responding to a recent PR NEWS survey prefer that PR professionals email them over other methods of contact. But, heed parts 1 and 2 of our survey (PRN, 7/19 and 7/26) when working with journalists - they'll call you or email you if they're interested in your pitch.
In the last of 3 parts, we asked journalists at Phillips Business Information (PR NEWS' parent) how they like to be contacted and details on their deadlines.
Seth Arenstein, Editorial Director, CableFax Daily and International Cable Magazine (301/340-7788 x2117):
Phone. Fax gives us a few days notice, but if urgent our daily deadline can be met; a few hours before 5 p.m.
Evan Bass, Editor, CTI News and Voice Technology and Services ([email protected]):
Jack Belcher, Editorial Director, Downstream Energy Group:
Use faxes for advance alerts on stories. Use snail mail for product announcements, etc. - releases that are not time-sensitive. Most deadlines are one week. I prefer e-mail, but phone calls are great for follow-ups.
Dave Bross, Associate Publisher of Editorial, Phillips Satellite Group ([email protected]):
E-mail.
Nick Dager, Editor, AV Video Multimedia Producer ([email protected])
E-mail. E-mail. E-mail.
Nissa Darbonne, Editor, Oil and Gas Interests ([email protected]; 713/993-9320 x165):
All forms are fine. Each form has its purpose. Lead-time for story ideas is three months prior to publication, minimum. Deadline is seven weeks prior to publication, minimum.
Paul Dykewicz, Editor, Satellite News ([email protected]):
I now am a faithful user of e-mail. It reaches my desk the fastest and be retrieved when I have time. A stack of phone messages is a poor substitute, compared with a series of e-mails in which each one explains the reason for the query.
Mark Forror, Managing Editor, Rotor & Wing Magazine:
I prefer e-mail and/or telephone calls. That's a personal preference. Since we are a monthly and we work ahead two months, my minimum lead time is 3 months, especially for Events Calendar items.
Roger Friedman, Assistant Managing Editor, Media Group (rfriedman@ phillips.com):
E-mail is best.
Jay Heflin, Editor, interactive pr & marketing news ([email protected]):
Email.
Matthew Kinsman, Editor, min's b-to-b ([email protected]):
E-mail when it works, otherwise no preference. I like to have stories in by Thursday, but this industry has an annoying habit of breaking news late on Friday
Hunter Keeter, Army Reporter, Defense Daily ([email protected]; 703/522-5655)
E-mail and telephone are best (not necessarily in that order). Our deadline is around 4 p.m. EST every day.
Reed Miller, Senior Editor, Fiber Optics News (301/340-7788 x2141):
Phone. My deadline is every Thursday. I need about two days lead time for a story.
Elisa Modugno, Editor, Broadband Business Report ([email protected]):
E-mail. Biweekly deadline.
John Scheinman, Senior Editor, Electronic Commerce News ([email protected]; 301/340-7788 x2047):
All formats work, but snail mail cannot be something "timely." Lead time is a week.
Matthew Schwartz, Editor, min magazine (212/983-5170):
Phone; lead-time several weeks since we're a quarterly.
Steve Smith, Senior Editor, min's New Media Report ([email protected]):
E-mail is easier to reply to than engaging in phone tag with PR people whose job it is to be on the phone all day.
Nick Snow, Editor, Petroleum Finance Week, [email protected]):
Email and snail mail are the best for initial contacts. Telephone works only if I have a continuing relationship with the PR person. They also are the ones who know that it's best to hit me early in the week and that it may take more than a week to develop a story.
Malcolm Spicer, Editor, Mobile Phone News ([email protected]; 301/340-7788 x4170):
Prefer e-mail, with phone follow before actually commencing contact for purpose of reporting a story.
Marisa Torrieri, reporter, PR NEWS Media HotSheet ([email protected]):
Email.
Gregory Twachtman, Editor, Wireless Data News (301/340-7788 x2700; [email protected]):
Phone or e-mail. Most snail mail I receive is looked at at my convenience. If it is something of importance, it may get lost in the shuffle. I will at least read my e-mail and make my follow-up from there. I personally prefer when a flack summarizes the talking points in the first paragraph before the actual release to give me the immediate heads up on why they want my attention.
Most of the PR people who work with me have gotten used to my biweekly schedule and understand that I need any relevant information by COB Friday before my Monday 11a.m. press deadline. Because of my Wednesday cover date, PR folks have gotten me information that I would normally have missed due to my deadline schedule.
Benet Wilson, Editor, Commuter Regional Airline News ([email protected]):
I prefer email these days. If you use snail mail, forget about it. I only read my mail once a week these days, so if it's that important, you should use a faster way to get it to me.
I'm a weekly pub that goes to press on Friday morning, so I need my info by no later than noon Thursday, preferably COB on Wednesday.
To get a free copy of the three-part PR NEWS Journalist Survey, email Diane Schwartz at [email protected]
Dear Reader: PR NEWS is offering a special rate to PR NEWS readers for the lastest edition of the U.S. All Media E-mail Directory, which contains 13,500 e-mail addresses of key media contacts.
To get your copy of this CD-ROM directory ($139), contact Karen Singer at 301/340-7788 ext. 2322 or email [email protected] with name, address and credit card information. The Directory will be sent to you within 10 business days.