Valley PR Blog

Help a reporter? Sure, it’s our life blood!

By Barry Kluger on July 8th, 2008 In Best Practices

Recently, and I am usually a good few years behind the curve (I own a Hummer after all) I came across a site, though not new by any means, was new to me. Help A Reporter (www.helpareporter.com) is the brainchild of NY PR guy, Peter Shankman and gives a twice daily update as to what reporters in any city, anywhere for any publication, tv program , publisher or outlet is working on and needs a source or client or referral to meet their deadlines. Today’s requests included stories about: Obama, Smoking, and Culture (Minneapolis Star Tribune); Firing Horror Stories (XM Radio); Kitchen Designer/Homeowner (Gannett Newspapers); People who telecommute (New England Area) ;Small Biz Owners and Pricing Jobs; Designer Bluetooth Earpieces (Penthouse Mag and others) and Kids Electronics in School. Though there are sources like profnet, some things miss the radar and this is one more great tool for us as pr professionals to better serve our clients. Go register, it’s free, no salesman will call and Peter may throw in the Ginzu Knives and Flobee with all attachments.

Comments

Scottsdale author Matt Moran posted the following about the site on Monday, advising non-PR folks on how to use it.

** TIP: Free Publicity **

If you have a business or know someone who does, consider visiting:
http://www.helpareporter.com/
You sign up and you will get three emails each working day with press inquiries for interview topics or help with stories. I’ve already been interviewed twice; once about my book, The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit, and once as a technology consultant. I’ve passed interview request along to several friends for topics that seemed to fit their situation. Many of these stories are from high-profile, well-traveled websites and if you get a link in the story, it could help search engine placement.

Don’t under estimate the impact of publicity: A few years ago, I was misquoted in an Associated Press article (yes, misquoted) and my book title was given in error - and yet, the article which appeared nationally on several news sites and in newspapers, caused a HUGE 5 day jump in book sales on Amazon. Sort of like the Colbert bump.

If you are concerned with spam, considering signing up for a gmail account at Google.com and use that email just for this site and any others like it.

Help a Reporter is great-Peter is darn funny and I have had two good leads develop from subscribing. His t-shirt size is large too, if you want to butter him up

Thank you

HARO is growing all the time. Your fellow blogger Charlotte Risch turned a lot of people on to his service a month or so ago. It’s great stuff. If you don’t find a lead for your particular client, you can at least smile. Peter definitely packs his emails full of wit and fun.

I’m lobbying Peter to come to Phoenix for a HARO get together!

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