I got to do a little experimenting today, along with a little math. (shudder.) Today was my annual "Good Karma Email" campaign. If you don’t know what it is, it’s basically an email that goes out to a few thousand reporters, explaining that I know half the world, and if they’re on deadline, email me, and I’ll try to help, all in the name of good PR Karma. It’s usually very successful. And occasionally, I get an email from a reporter asking "huh? What do you want? Why are you being so nice?" Then I explain that they’re being paranoid, and occasionally, someone actually does something out of the goodness of their heart. They they get even more paranoid. It’s [...]

Been waiting for this press release since December 1. Woo-hoo!! I LOVE this release!! George Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 RELEASE: 74-06 NASA’S KSC PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO SANTA ON CHRISTMAS EVE The Debris Imaging Radar System, used during the night launch of NASA’s space shuttle mission STS-116, is a new system at Kennedy Space Center in Florida that will now be made available to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Based on its success in identifying even the smallest amount of debris coming off the orbiter or the external tank, NASA has strong confidence the system will provide assistance in observing Santa’s sleigh. Since the elves have the packages piled high, NASA can determine with great accuracy if any gifts [...]

Sent by a source. WHAT THE HELL IS KEN SUNSHINE THINKING? How, exactly, does putting giant initials over the press release help the reporter? And as long as we’re on the subject, how does making the reader SCROLL HORIZONTALLY to read the release, help either? Ouch. Any logical benefit of the doubt HAS to say that this is a one time thing – Because honestly, I can’t imagine an agency (Especially one with as many A-list clients as KS) doing this on a regular basis… Just click on the photo. Words don’t do it justice.

Carrol (note two "r’s", my apologies for missing that in the original post) wrote me a note regarding my posting about her "Unless he’s coming out of a coma" media release of last week. Peter, loved the blurb and pitch tip on my press release BUT have to differ and so would the  press who showed up at TheCRO to cover the speeches and land rare in-person interviews with both giants, Lewis Kaden and Russell Simmons.  They were thrilled!  OK, good for her. Press showed up. But she never mentioned exactly WHO. The "press" could be "Joe’s house of speech coverers," there for the free food. That doesn’t mean it was a smart idea. All I’m saying, Carrol, is that [...]

Peter’s rule of pitching #3: Unless you’ve just woken up from a fifteen-year coma and can tell us who killed Kennedy, a press release announcing that you’re going to speak is NOT NEWS. We clear on that, Carol? SUBJECT: NEWS: Lewis Kaden, Vice Chair, CitiGroup Speaks DON’T MISS ON WED. NOV. 1 @ 10:30am in THE NEW YORK MARRIOTT FINANCIAL CENTER HOTEL — LEWIS KADEN, VICE CHAIR & CAO OF CITIGROUP WILL ADDRESS THE FIRST ANNUAL "CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY OFFICER" CONFERENCE ( WWW.THECRO.COM ) The CRO is the first member-based media platform for Corporate Responsibility Officers (CROs) and has signed over 100 companies and non-profits as members. The CRO’s areas of coverage include compliance, governance, ethics, financial reporting, CSR, public affairs, [...]