Pitch Me — Joan Westlake

By on July 30th, 2007 In ValleySource

Westlake

Name: Joan Westlake

Title: Editor

Outlet: SanTan Essential

Phone: 480-968-8902

Email: Westwoman@aol.com

1. What do you do at SanTan Essential?

As the contributing editor, I work with the publishers to identify article and news topics. I assign and edit articles and see the pub through production and printing.

2. What kinds of stories are you looking for?

Articles must have a SanTan direct connection (Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek). Except for chef features and profiles, most articles are not about one person/company. But, your pitch could spark an article in which your client is featured prominently along with others. Love to focus on the hometown businesses. Looking for topics that are fresh, fun and/or important to our readers.

3. What’s the best way to approach you with a pitch?

Send a brief pitch in the text of the e-mail with how it fits in the pub and what makes it worth running.

4. What recommendations do you have for PR professionals?

DO YOUR JOB. Know your client. Get copies of the pub or go online and READ IT. Use AP style. Get great images. Deliver what you promise on time. Sure fire pitch kills:

  1. Using the word “unique” or some such irritating, overused and unsubstantiated claim.
  2. Wasting my time by telling me to go to a Web site rather than providing the info.
  3. Asking me if I want to interview the company president with no indication of why in the heck I would.
  4. Attaching a bunch of stuff I didn’t ask for and won’t download.

5. What’s the strangest/weirdest pitch you’ve ever received?

Strange and weird pitches often net the best stories. It is the boring, unprofessional and what’s-the-point ones that creep me out.

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