A little too much research

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I wrote an opinion column for the T-G on Sunday pointing out some common mistakes people make when sending us press releases or other submissions for the newspaper.

Well, the column was noticed by — and mentioned by — Joan Stewart, a publicist and author who maintains a web site about, well, publicity.

I normally shy away from mentioning too much here about my newspaper work — but in this case, It’s Ms. Stewart who makes a connection between the two. Using me as an example, she suggests looking to see if a journalist has a personal blog in the hopes that maybe you can learn something about the journalist that would aid you in your pitch.

Well, maybe, maybe not. I think if someone called me up and made conversation about my gumbo recipe, my predilection for game shows and my trip to California as a preface to pitching me some unrelated story idea, I would feel a little creeped out. I would rather hear about your story idea.

By the way, I sort of regret now having written the column that started all this. I think I came across a little whiny.

Are you out there, Newscoma? What do you think? UPDATE: I meant about the blogging issue. If you agree that my column was whiny, I don’t need to hear that. :)

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About John

John Carney is a journalist, a certified United Methodist lay speaker, a veteran of foreign and domestic short-term mission trips, and author of a self-published novel, Soapstone.
  • http://happyfamilyathome.blogspot.com/ Jennifer

    I read your column, and I enjoyed it all :) The word “whiny” never mentioned my mind in any shape, form or fashion. Loved the California pictures too :)

  • http://happyfamilyathome.blogspot.com/ Jennifer

    I read your column, and I enjoyed it all :) The word “whiny” never mentioned my mind in any shape, form or fashion. Loved the California pictures too :)

  • http://www.newscoma.wordpress.com newscoma

    I read your column, John and you were right on. Our computers are also from 1999 and every word you wrote is true. For a laugh, our High School Cheerleaders just won the National Championship and three different people brought me CD’s of the competition. Each CD had more than 600 photos on each one.
    Talk about wanting to pull my hair out.
    I didn’t feel that your column was in the least bit whiny. It seemed practical and were very good words of advice.
    As for Joan Stewart’s post, I think we are all experiencing the transition of the transparency of blogging. Recently I met a politician who just won a seat to Congress. When I introduced myself, he said (and it was so weird) “No your not Tracy Sharp, your newscoma” while he grinned. I never brought up the blog.
    It happened again a couple of weeks ago at the Legislative Reception in Nashville. Once again, the blog wasn’t brought up by me.
    I found it to be very odd.
    I have had a couple occasions when people would come into my office and bring up the blog and I found myself automatically saying that the blog and my job at the newspaper are two different things.
    But, the two worlds of journalism and blogging are colliding, don’t you think?
    I think where Stewart (and many people in mainstream environments outside of the blogosphere) don’t always get is that it’s not about publicity for publicity’s sake. It’s an extension of the creative medium we are in.
    At the newspaper (and do you go through this) we have a rigid set of rules we must abide by. Worn out copies of our AP Stylebooks, scheduling reporters for news stories, dealing with publishers, handling complaints and dealing with the promotion of the newspaper as a whole.
    The blogging allows us to step out of that box and delve into a new medium (or at least I’m speaking for myself).
    I write about rural media that needs to be respected and appreciated but I do try to seperate them as I believe you do. We blog just because we dig it :)
    And I think if someone called me wanting a job or googling my name to see what I put on-line would make me take pause.
    Don’t regret writing the column at all. It was a good column and this is actually a very good dialogue about the subject of people who do work in the mainstream are experiencing.
    To blog or not to blog.
    I say blog.
    Sending fond wishes from the west side of the state.

  • http://www.newscoma.wordpress.com newscoma

    I read your column, John and you were right on. Our computers are also from 1999 and every word you wrote is true. For a laugh, our High School Cheerleaders just won the National Championship and three different people brought me CD's of the competition. Each CD had more than 600 photos on each one.
    Talk about wanting to pull my hair out.
    I didn't feel that your column was in the least bit whiny. It seemed practical and were very good words of advice.
    As for Joan Stewart's post, I think we are all experiencing the transition of the transparency of blogging. Recently I met a politician who just won a seat to Congress. When I introduced myself, he said (and it was so weird) “No your not Tracy Sharp, your newscoma” while he grinned. I never brought up the blog.
    It happened again a couple of weeks ago at the Legislative Reception in Nashville. Once again, the blog wasn't brought up by me.
    I found it to be very odd.
    I have had a couple occasions when people would come into my office and bring up the blog and I found myself automatically saying that the blog and my job at the newspaper are two different things.
    But, the two worlds of journalism and blogging are colliding, don't you think?
    I think where Stewart (and many people in mainstream environments outside of the blogosphere) don't always get is that it's not about publicity for publicity's sake. It's an extension of the creative medium we are in.
    At the newspaper (and do you go through this) we have a rigid set of rules we must abide by. Worn out copies of our AP Stylebooks, scheduling reporters for news stories, dealing with publishers, handling complaints and dealing with the promotion of the newspaper as a whole.
    The blogging allows us to step out of that box and delve into a new medium (or at least I'm speaking for myself).
    I write about rural media that needs to be respected and appreciated but I do try to seperate them as I believe you do. We blog just because we dig it :)
    And I think if someone called me wanting a job or googling my name to see what I put on-line would make me take pause.
    Don't regret writing the column at all. It was a good column and this is actually a very good dialogue about the subject of people who do work in the mainstream are experiencing.
    To blog or not to blog.
    I say blog.
    Sending fond wishes from the west side of the state.

  • http://www.newscoma.wordpress.com newscoma

    Darn, didn’t mean to hijack here.
    Oops.

  • http://www.newscoma.wordpress.com newscoma

    Darn, didn't mean to hijack here.
    Oops.

  • http://johnwesleysjournal.blogspot.com John Wesley

    Dear and Gentle Reader,

    Since I last had the pleasure of visiting ye, I have had many thoughts upon ye and your work in this, our online community. Keep hold the faith and continue to run the race! We will praise God for what he has done through your ministry and I cherish your willing spirit and compassion.

    Who knows but it may please God to make ye an instrument in His glorious work? In effecting an union among the labourers in His vineyard? That He may direct and bless you in all your steps is the prayer of my heart.

    Your affectionate and obedient servant,
    JW

  • http://johnwesleysjournal.blogspot.com John Wesley

    Dear and Gentle Reader,

    Since I last had the pleasure of visiting ye, I have had many thoughts upon ye and your work in this, our online community. Keep hold the faith and continue to run the race! We will praise God for what he has done through your ministry and I cherish your willing spirit and compassion.

    Who knows but it may please God to make ye an instrument in His glorious work? In effecting an union among the labourers in His vineyard? That He may direct and bless you in all your steps is the prayer of my heart.

    Your affectionate and obedient servant,
    JW

  • http://www.PublicityHound.com Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound

    I’m not suggesting that someone mention your gumbo recipe or the fact that you’re a gameshow geek in the first sentence of their pitch. Knowing what journalists are blogging about helps PR people and anyone else who wants to self-promote build the relationship with journalists. Publicity is all about relationships: giving the media what they want, when they want it, then asking “Is there any other way I can help you?”

    Smart PR people hang around at a blog they’re trying to get a client into, read it for several weeks, post comments, then pitch the blogger.

    P.S. I worked as a newspaper editor and reporter for 22 years. Back then, it was all about building relationships. Still is.

  • http://www.PublicityHound.com Joan Stewart, The Publicity Ho

    I'm not suggesting that someone mention your gumbo recipe or the fact that you're a gameshow geek in the first sentence of their pitch. Knowing what journalists are blogging about helps PR people and anyone else who wants to self-promote build the relationship with journalists. Publicity is all about relationships: giving the media what they want, when they want it, then asking “Is there any other way I can help you?”

    Smart PR people hang around at a blog they're trying to get a client into, read it for several weeks, post comments, then pitch the blogger.

    P.S. I worked as a newspaper editor and reporter for 22 years. Back then, it was all about building relationships. Still is.