Time Magazine: Editor's Note: Okay, so we know that writers at Time magazine, because of its tireless political coverage and its business content, have earned a reputation for knowing all the news -- but make no mistake, a small portion of weekly stories were triggered by a PR pitch or a relationship with a PR person. And these editors seem slightly more receptive than some we've approached.
Key:
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Days to contact/ Days to avoid |
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Entertainment/Arts Coverage includes films, video reviews, music and anything with an artsy spin. |
Senior Editor:Jim Collins, Phone: 212/522-4366 | Don't make a pitch at the end of the week. Get your idea in at the beginning of the work week since Time's weekly deadlines call for early planning. | Editor wants news sent to him by regular mail (see address above). And allow for the delay business mail sometimes causes at a large corporation. | Don't expect that there are a lot of ways you're going to get to this editor since he discourages faxes, e-mails and calls. He's from the old school: factor in the timeliness of the topic and put a press kit or release in the mail. Then let him call you. |
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High-Tech Expect the typical focus on the Internet, but writing is snappy and insightful --not tedious like some business news. |
Senior Editor: Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Staff Writer: Michael Krantz Phone: 212/522-0760 | Make your pitches on Monday and Tuesday by fax: 212/522-4799. The end of the week is the worst time to suggest a story. | Remember: fax first but if you must place a call, don't make it to Elmer-DeWitt. Call Krantz since he's the one who's most available and most likely to consider a PR plug. | Krantz's most important advice: If you send a fax, make it short and sweet. And if you place a call and have to leave a message, make it very brief. It's likely he won't take the time to listen to a long one and he'll zap it from his voice mail. |
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Washington Bureau One of this bureau's most popular features is "Public Eye" --which is written by Margaret Carlson --and profiles people in the news. |
News Editor: Brian Doyle, Phone: 202/861-4028, Fax: 202/293-1085 Address: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #850, Washington, D.C. 20036-5314 |
Editor says the earlier in the week a release comes his way, the more likely he is to consider it since most of the magazine goes to production at 6 p.m. on Sunday. (Except if it's a breaking story and then expediency is key!) | Doyle, by far, is the most receptive editor we've spoken to since starting this column. Either that or we caught him on a really good day. Says he "opens every piece of mail I get" -- however he says the best method for a pitch is a fax that's no more than two pages. | Advice from Doyle: "When you call me, get to the point right away." Also, he recommends that if you leave a voice mail, speak slowly and leave your phone number at the beginning and the end of the message. |