The Denver Post
1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Although the Denver Post doesn't have a dedicated health section, health news gets major ink in the A section (hard news), business section and metro section. The health reporters are definitely approachable but they're sticklers for making sure PR claims are backed by facts. For instance, reporters conducted a mini-investigation of a nutrition company's new product line of supplements. An independent lab was used to make sure that product labels accurately reflected the content of the supplements. Post reporters found that the labels were less than truthful and reported about it.
Overall, editors are looking for a local angle to national health trends. You will build quick rapport if you position yourself a health resource, providing articulate medical experts who can address key issues, popular treatments/procedures and provide fresh perspectives on various health topics.
Recent health stories include:
- Drug therapies for childhood depression;
- Ambulatory care at hospitals; and
- The disadvantage of Taebo, (the latest kickboxing fitness craze).
HEALTH FEATURES: The Denver Post averages at least two health features per week. The focus tends to be on providing tips, guidance and advice on a wide variety of health trends, procedures and drug therapies. The business section is ideal for pitching adminstrative and operational trends. And the metro section tends to cover local hospital-based hard news and profiles.
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: PR Pitches: Medical/science Reporter, Claire Martin; Fax: 303/820-1679; e-mail: [email protected] Business Reporter, Eric Hubler; [email protected]
METHODS: Your best pitching bets are faxing and e-mailing the appropriate editors.
COMMENTS: You'll get immediate attention and respect if you show that you've done your own homework before pitching a story to this newspaper. Analyze trends, position new procedures in the context of helpful market research and be careful about using cliche terms like "cutting edge," "state of the art" and "first-ever." Immediately, health information needs are: 1. experts for a feature on the ethics of clinical studies; and 2. local experts for national health trends.