How do I tell the press about a business?

[jconsta6]

Is there a way of blanketly notifying the press about a new national business or event?

For example is there somewhere that say papaers look to see if there are any intresting stories?

Or what about news channels? Where does the ITV get it's news?

Or is it a case that you have to send out hundreds of the same communication to all the different tabloids/bbc/itv/sky etc??

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

JC

[Size Nine Elm]

You spend money with a PR agency who will push info out to their relevant press contacts, who will cover or follow up if interested.

You can try cold calling to media or pubs, but you tend to get poor results.

[jconsta6]

Size Nine Elm said:

You spend money with a PR agency who will push info out to their relevant press contacts, who will cover or follow up if interested. You can try cold calling to media or pubs, but you tend to get poor results.

Thanks for that, I propbably worded my original post wrong, as the thing I want pushing out is an entertainment story. However your advice seems just as relevant.

So are there any well known ones? This is completely new terriotory for me?

any pointers on who to contact. I reaslise there iwll be fees involved.

Cheers,

JC

[Size Nine Elm]

jconsta6 said:

So are there any well known ones? This is completely new terriotory for me?

Don't know - many differing scales of agency it terms of their contacts (and hence fees) e.g. national press and media, or local/regional - also can be very sector-specific (e.g. IT contacts, specific IT publications etc).

ETA - if it's an entertainment story, it might be worth contacting local/regional press, and if they like it they might push it up to national level...

>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Wednesday 2nd November 14:49

[slapmatt]

If it's entertainment related, how about a gimmicky launch. Cue model with large breasts and tight t-shirt!

[rico]

Branson always does interesting actions to grab the headlines. Eg, he covered Concorde in Virgin banners.

Something original and wacky normally grabs the attention of the press

[jconsta6]

Hi all,

There already is a "gimmick" factor assigned to this, which is why I think the press will be intrested however, it's no good standing in a field doing a jump over a burning buss while a naked lapdance twirls around a pole mounted on the back of one of OCC finest, if they don't know it's happening.

If you see what I mean, I need to blanket notify the press that "X" is happening...

Cheers,

JC

[slapmatt]

You need a flashy Web site that just displays a date and a location.

Then you need a viral email campaign.

Click-happy people with too much time on their hands will do the rest!

[PetrolTed]

PR agency is what you need. You need to tap into someone's expertise in this area and that's exactly what they do.

[jeremyc]

You need to put the story out on the relevant newswire (like Reuters, Businesswire, AP etc.): there are a number of services, many of which are market sector specific. Typically they charge a fee based on the number of words in the release and the coverage you require (UK only, Europe, USA, Japan ...). They can also translate for different regions if necessary.

Of course, as has already been mentioned, a PR agency can help you do all this....

[andymadmak]

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and I
run a small agency/consultancy these days.
E mail me if you'd like to talk.
Basically there are all sorts of ways of making something
press worthy.

Andy

[Muncher]

I have a friend who is working for a news agency and his job is to supply various articles for companies internet and intranet sites. i.e. they ask for x amount of articles on a given subject of general interest.

If you drop me an e-mail I will see whether he can feed info about your business into various articles.