Crain's Chicago Business
740 N. Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2590
For such a high-profile business newspaper, we were pleasantly surprised to find the top editors at this weekly helpful and insightful about ways that PR folks can better serve the paper. Crain's Chicago Business provides breaking news, analysis and feature stories about the Chicago business arena. If you're going to delve into the world of this Windy City business paper, we suggest getting to know the beat reporters, listed below, who are the heart and soul of the paper. (Circulation: 293,000; median age: 47.4; median HHI: $141,000; 76% male readers)
SECTIONS: NEWS
Editors aren't trying to be stern when they say only news makes the paper tick. A variety of departments - including hospitality, media, gambling, tourism, real estate, law, transportation, government and politics (just to name a few) - are news driven, not pitch driven.
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: Editor, David Snyder, Phone: 312/649-5410
Lead Time: at least one week; for breaking news, contact reporters that morning by phone.
METHODS: No faxes, no e-mail and no fancy CD ROM pitches.
"CD ROMs are superfluous. If we want more material, we'll ask for it," says Snyder.
Good old-fashioned mail is the way to go.
COMMENTS: Don't contact Snyder for any story ideas - that's not his job. We've provided you with a list of beat reporters that you should target when trying your hand at pitching.
"Reporters are responsible for coming up with story ideas," says Snyder. "It's a bottom up structure here."
Make pitches relevant to Chicago. "People from Florida with no tie to Chicago shouldn't be pitching us," he says.
SECTIONS: SPECIAL REPORTS/SMALL BUSINESS
These reports, which run monthly, profile executives and corporations in the Chicago area.
EDITOR/LEAD TIME: Editor, Junu Kim, Phone: 312/280-3175
Lead Time: This lead time depends on when the special reports are publishing. For a complete editorial calendar, go to http://www.crainschicagobusiness.com.
METHODS: Again, editors prefer mail. Another contact for this section is Assistant Editor Paula Lyon.
COMMENTS: Although it may seem redundant, editors say only a good story idea that's news will attract their attention. You must have a clear understanding of what Crain's Chicago Business covers and its writing style. Show editors your knowledge of their publication and you'll get great feedback.
Editorial Contacts at Crain's Chicago Business
Main Number: 312/649-5411
Jeff Borden
entertainment, hospitality, media, gambling, tourism and non-profits
312/280-3144
Tom Corfman
real estate and law
312/649-7813
Greg Hinz
education, government, politics, economic development and City Hall
312/649-5253
Steve Daniels
manufacturing, transportation and utilities
312/649-5333
Melissa George
retail and workplace
312/649-5264
Julie Johnsson
banking and insurance
312/649-5431
Barbara Rose, hi-tech
312/649-5479
Kevin Knapp
suburban news, economy and public transportation
312/649-5456
C. J. Rewick
advertising, marketing, food and consumer products
312/649-5420