Here is a great assessment of Toyota’s recent media crisis from industry expert Andy Gilman, president and owner of CommCore Consulting Group. Andy worked on the Tylenol crisis years back and has great industry insight and experience.

Assessing Mr. Toyoda’s Role Through the Ongoing Recall Crisis at Toyota

George Washington University in partnership with Cision recently published a study highlighting how editors/journalists use and value public relations assistance, media  databases, and other traditional and online resources for research, story ideas, and other purposes. Statistical analysis of the data (collected in November and December of 2008) showed some interesting results.  

One prominent topic in the study was editors’/journalists’ preferences when receiving information from public relations professionals. Below are some of the findings from the study on this topic.

• For identifying or developing story ideas, websites are most important to editors/journalists, followed by submissions from PR professionals.
• Submissions from PR professionals are used by more than 94% editors/journalists
• Over half of the editors/journalists responding wanted to receive unsolicited  e-mail pitches from communications professionals as simple text only.
• Being more relevant to their beat/area of interest and being less promotional struck the strongest chords with editors/journalists.
• Editors/journalists also expressed the following specific preferences when receiving correspondence from PR professionals:
  • Press release email sent to a bunch of reporters is more likely to be ignored. The offer of exclusivity, however minor, would pique anyone’s interest.
  • Follow AP style and avoid unqualified superlatives. Be concise and get to the point quickly. Be more personal; know about the publications you are pitching to.
  • Have clear subject lines, no attachments, signature with contact information and no follow up phone calls.

With few exceptions editors/journalists agreed that e-mail pitches should be more relevant to their beat/area of interest, less promotional, should state benefits for their audiences, have stronger story ideas, cover the 5 Ws in leads, be better written and have less boilerplate.

 Read more here http://us.cision.com/journalist_survey/ and happy pitching!

Meredith Hutchings

Paramount Public Relations is proud to announce our Founder and President Jessica Prah will be honored at the upcoming Maven DIVA SERIES, along with other influential and successful women in Business, PR, Media, Fashion, Fitness, Beauty, Lifestyle and more.  Please join us!

Thursday, February 4, 2010 | Jbar | 610 North Rush | 6-9pm

Join us as we honor the MEDIA MAVEN Divas! You know these women – they are at the heart of publicity and entertainment! Lights, camera, action!

di·va – [dee-vuh, -vah] noun, distinguished female singer; prima donna. Goddess, fine lady.

Small bites and cocktail specials

RSVP to sarah@maven-chicago.com

Divas aka MEDIA MAVENS:

Ladies of Today’s Chicago Woman – TCW – Cassandra Gaddo, Lauren Rafferty, Rebecca Michuda and Katie Schroeder
Kyra Kyles – Tribune RedEye columnist, reporter, and WGN-TV pop culture contributor. Blogger for the Kyles Files (RedEye)
Michelle Molise – Founder of Molise PR – www.michellemolise.com
Adrienne Eckert – President of Skirt PR
Jen Knoedl – Founder of JenChicago.com
Melissa Maynard – Editor and Chief of Factio Magazine (www.factio-magazine) and Runway to Retail www.runwaytoretail.com
Liz Crokin and Boots Girls – Sydney Park and Nichole Berry – from TheseBootsAreMadeForStalking.com and RedEye columnist
Amy Dorris-Hulth – President of Two Muses Media & Entertainment
Stephanie Krol – Owner of Stephanie Krol Public Relations (SKPR)
Tsitsiki Felix – Emmy Award Winning Solo Anchor for Telemundo Chicago
Jessica Prah – President and Founder of Paramount PR www.paramountpr.com

Lisette Calderon – CEO and PR Director of Connoisseur PR Group
Hilary Rawk – Partner / Director of Marketing for Broke Hipster
Lindsay Hays – Founder and President of Grace PR
Cindy Kurman – President of Kurman Communications, Inc.
Jen Patterson – On-Air-Personality with Comcast’s Game Time Dine, and RedEye 5 on 5 every Wednesday, Comcast SportsNet – Production/On-Air
Danielle Fornarell – Fashion Editor of Image Magazine
Katie Piccirillo – Editor of Chicago Scene
Amalie Drury – Editor of Chicago Social and Nightlife Contributor for Chicago Magazine
Marissa Conrad – Associate Editor for Chicago Social
Rachel Rabbit White – Editor of TheChiGuide.com, social media marketing for YouSwoop.com, contributor for sex-relationship publication Sexis & blogger @ www.rabbitwrite.com
Noelle Provencial, Eryn Farba and Lacey Brenly from Poor Little Rich Girls –www.poorlittlerichgirls.com
Irene Michaels – Founder of I On The Scene – www.ionthescene.com – online celebrity and social webzine
Sandria Washington – Founder of Writeous Media
Lindsay Wilbeck – Account Executive for Clear Channel Outdoor.