One Herald Plaza
Miami, Fla. 33132-1693
Phone: 305/350-2111
Editor's Note: In the news industry, the Miami Herald has earned a reputation for being a cutting-edge, hard-hitting publication whose staffers have included the famous police reporter Edna Buchanan, author of "The Corpse Had A Familiar Face." But from a PR perspective, this paper is worth trying to pitch because it has a sizeable mix of features and human-interest and business pieces that deviate from its hardline news approach.
| Section |
Arts This is the place where arts reign. Coverage includes the visual arts, film, theater and fine arts. In addition to the Herald's popular arts coverage, the paper's Weekend section, which is events-oriented, gives PR practitioners countless forums for a pitch. |
| Editors | Arts Editor: Katherine Fong; Phone: 305/376-3818; Fax: 305/376-2202 |
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Days to Contact/ Days to Avoid |
Fong wants pitches to come to her early in the week since her deadline days are Wednesday and Thursday. Trust us, we called Fong on a Tuesday and it was still hard to get in touch with her. Because of the amount of crime the Herald covers, this will be one of the most hectic newsrooms you encounter. |
| Methods | Fong wants pitches to be sent by regular mail with several weeks lead time if possible. Faxes are her second choice. |
| Comments | It's unlikely you'll make a lot of friends at the Miami Herald if you're married to pitching ideas over the phone. This is a news operation that rarely sees slow days; however, the editors we spoke to were among the friendliest we've chatted with so far. "I prefer that the initial contact is in writing," Fong said, "because if it isn't something we're interested in, I can immediately toss it." |
| Section |
Online The Herald has two online versions: http://www.herald.com; and http://www.lherald.com |
| Editors |
Managing Editor: Marcelo Rodriguez; Fax: 305/376-2245; E-mail: mrodriguez @herald.com
(Rodriguez wants pitches that lend themselves to topics which work best in an interactive format.) |
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Days to Contact/ Days to Avoid |
Mornings are the best time to touch base with Rodriguez if you really must. Afternoons are the worst. |
| Methods |
Here's the list on Rodriguez's preference for pitches: No. 1: E-mail No. 2: General mail No. 3: Fax |
| Comments | Rodriguez can't stand phone calls. "The No.1 mistake PR people make is cold calls. As an editor, they drive me crazy." Rodriguez, too, is impressed with people who've read the paper and recognize its "worth." |