Valley PR Blog

Pitch Me: Linda Barkman, Phoenix Home and Garden

By Charlotte Shaff on January 9th, 2008 In ValleySource

Name:      Linda J. Barkman
Title:        Editor
Outlet:     Phoenix Home & Garden
Phone:     (480) 664-3960
Email:     lbarkman@citieswestpub.com
 
What do you do at PHG? I’m responsible for everything that goes into the magazine and how it is presented except the ads.

What kinds of stories are you looking for?  Our issues are very themed, so the content for each issue is based on that month’s theme, and what our research tells us readers want. Our content is also very focused, with everything revolving around product, design and ideas for the home or garden.

What’s the best way to approach you with a pitch?  With a pitch, by email, or by sending a press kit by regular mail.  

What recommendations do you have for PR professionals? Several.
(1) Send focused pitches and make sure the pitches are appropriate content-wise for the magazine they are pitching; this means being familiar with the publication and the types of things its editors may or may not be looking for. I receive lots of pitches for stories that are never in our editorial lineup, i.e. travel, cosmetics, jewelry, fashion, health, restaurants, commercial spaces.
(2) Know the magazine’s audience and its policies regarding exclusivity, etc. and pitch (or not) accordingly. Phoenix Home & Garden’s editorial content is based on who does, or doesn’t, advertise.
(3) Do not send blanket press releases to all print media, i.e. newspapers and magazines, and be aware of a publication’s typical lead time as it pertains to features as well as listings, product submissions, etc. I often get pitches or requests for listings for an issue that has already been sent to the printer. Additionally, our editorial is very planned and we work anywhere from 3 months to a year or more ahead.
(4) Avoid making follow-up calls to ask if info sent has been received unless it was something specifically requested; if we are interested we will be getting in touch.
(5) Avoid sending the same pitch to several editors at the same publication.
(6) Understand that we do not rely on pitches for story ideas as we are very planned.
(7) Avoid leaving long rambling phone messages and realize that email is a much more efficient way to communicate.

5.What’s the strangest/weirdest pitch you’ve ever received? Too many to name (After Linda filled this out, she forwarded me a release for a Husband Dog Whistle. You could tell it was sent out to the masses and had no relation to the magazine.)

I just have to say that this woman really knows her stuff. She probably doesnt remember this, but back when I first started doing PR, she gave me some blunt, solid advice that I try to heed when pitching a client. I had sent her a few ideas for a remodeling biz and each one was not new (to me they were..to her…no…and covered in the past issues of PHG.) She was polite enough to tell me this and let me know she has to have something very new and innovative and a client who will let it be photographed for interviews. It seems like a little thing, but her advice helped guide me whenever I worked on ideas with clients. Figure out what is NEW and what is something we can pitch specifically to this publication that we won’t pitch to others.

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