I control-alt-deleted my brain on Saturday. Twice, in fact. This winter was way too long, way too cold, and way too depressing. This summer finds me back in hard-core training for the 2008 NYC Marathon, the Arkansas Iron-Mountain Half-Ironman, and a ton of other races. I’m gonna jump as much as I can in the middle of all of this. For the first time in several months, I’m feeling positive. And it’s good. Saturday’s jumps are below. Yeah, baby.

Thanks, Rich! 1) Give us a very brief overview of you: What you like to work with, favorite types of stories, what you’re always on the lookout for, and as important, what you can’t stand. After almost 20 years in the biz, I’m like any other reporter: I’m competitive, I like to land the scoop and I still get a thrill out of seeing my name attached to a great story. I like stories that, some how, some way, effect change. Stories that make a CEO or CMO think about how it affects THEIR business. I’m always on the lookout for those types of pieces. Can’t stand? Drivel. You’re breaking a new campaign? Great. So are dozens and dozens of [...]

Thanks, Matthew! 1) Give us a very brief overview of you: What you like to work with, favorite types of stories, what you’re always on the lookout for, and as important, what you can’t stand. I cover the media industries–newspapers, magazines, book publishing, television and radio. The business, not the content (no author interviews, program reviews, or profiles of stars). My stories must have a NYC connection. Either the company is based in NYC or is seriously impacting a NYC company. For instance, I’ve written about NJ-based Bauer, publisher of In Touch, because its magazines affect People and Us Weekly. My stories must have reasonably high impact. The subject must be either large enough to have that impact on its [...]

Bill: Thanks for taking the time for Peter 5! (Ed. note: Bill responded to me with some great free-flow thoughts, I’m just going to leave them as is, instead of putting them into my questions order. I think they come across more as what Bill was trying to say this way.) I can’t stand broken promises- if you can deliver we’ll be ok- but don’t tell me XYZ ceo’s will be there and then be unable to deliver any. I want actionable stories for investors- not new soaps or new and improved meat additives.  Have a new product that "changes the game"? I care {iPods} otherwise- don’t bug me.  Don’t’ pitch me and everyone else the same thing- I have [...]

Tommy: Thanks for taking time for Peter 5! 1) Give us a very brief overview of you: What you like to work with, favorite types of stories, what you’re always on the lookout for, and as important, what you can’t stand. 1) I like to work on stories that aren’t obvious, and which turn the conventional wisdom about a subject on its head.  One of my favorite stories was about the Dominican community’s preference for face-to-face dealings with travel agents instead of inhuman web-sites. Who knew? (You probably did, but I sure didn’t) 2) What can a publicist do to make sure he or she helps you out, and increases his or her chances of coverage with you? 2) Please [...]