Example of a Good Press Release

New Thriller Ill Wind Re-Visits Worst Hurricane in U-S History; Galveston Storm of 1900 Killed More Than All Others Combined

Film Producer Allen Pits Early Texas Crime Syndicate Against Fledgling Secret Service

June 13, 2011 - Houston

It was the deadliest, most destructive hurricane in American history. Even Katrina falls short in scale and devastation. Emmy award winning TV producer and native Texan Mark Allen uses the apocalyptic storm of 1900 as the backdrop of his historical thriller, Ill Wind.

This year, national weather watchers predict a more-active-than-normal hurricane season - with three to six major hurricanes projected for the Atlantic alone. But none have ever been predicted as severe as the devastating storm that swept Galveston Island more than a century ago.

“Most people have no idea how devastating the storm surge was,” says Allen. “In 1900, Galveston was the fourth-busiest port city in the country, but this hurricane wiped the island flat.”

The year was 1900.

The newly-formed U.S. Secret Service has sent an agent to investigate a counterfeiting conspiracy on the Texas Gulf Coast. He arrives just weeks before the horrible storm’s arrival on September 8th. As he uncovers a labyrinthian network of organized crime, the Gulf of Mexico churns - eventually producing a deadly phenomenon unlike any seen since.

Allen has leveraged his love of the Texas Gulf Coast and its history to produce a riveting historical novel set against a backdrop of utter devastation.

“I’ve always been enchanted with the city of Galveston, its romance and its tragic past,” says Allen. “This is a chapter of American history that has never been fully explored. I wanted to bring it to life with a novel that examines the city, the people and the circumstances preceding the disaster.”

As a child, Allen spent several years in the Houston area, where he and his parents learned to ride out hurricanes in the shower stall with a blanket and a weather radio. Years later, he covered Hurricane Andrew as a journalist based in East Texas. Today, he’s an award-winning TV and film producer and amateur historian.

“I think the lesson is that we tend to put too much trust in technology to protect us or to help control nature. It’s really a losing battle. We’re better at predicting hurricanes, floods and fires today, but no better at preventing them. Look at the Missouri River flooding, the Arizona wildfire or the tragic tornadoes this year alone. Weather is the great equalizer.”

Hurricane season in the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico lasts from June through November. Ninety-percent of the storms occur during that six-month window. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that this year's season will be above average, with as many as ten hurricanes spiraling across the Atlantic, many threatening the U-S coastline.

This is Mark Allen’s first novel, now available at amazon.com/kindle, barnesandnoble.com/nook, apple.com and ebookstore.com.

(http://www.illwindnovel.com/)

# # # # #

For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Jeff Brady at Brady Media Group. 214.265.5670. jeff@bradymediagroup.com

When Should You Send Press Releases?

From Business Wire:

A poll findsTuesday mornings are the best time to send a press release, according to 215 professional communicators. The data reinforces longstanding advice on the topic. For decades we’ve told clients that the best time to send a press release is “early in the day, early in the week.” Of course the general disclaimer “It depends” applies here, as the timing of any press release is subject to the nature of the news, goals of that release, the news of the day, and other variables. That said, we’ll resist the urge to say “I told you so,” and enjoy the fleeting affirmation of having PR Peeps confirm our sage advice. This poll was a challenge to analyze, as it was the first time we asked an open-ended question. In retrospect, we could have done a better job framing the survey, as responses ranged from time of day, to day of week, to general musings such as “when you have news to announce” or “you’re the experts–you tell us!” That said, the single most common answer, with 135 votes, was “mornings” or a variation thereof, such as “before noon” or “before 10 AM.” The second biggest vote getter, with 71 votes, was Tuesdays or a variation, such as “Tues. – Thursday.” Below are the details, as best we can present them. When’s the Best Time to Send a Press Release?- Tuesdays–71, or 53%- Mondays –16, or 7 %- Mornings–135, or 63%- 10 AM–17, or 8%.

As mentioned above, the numbers don’t add up to 215, since many people answered with multiple recommendations such as “about 10 AM, Mon – Thursday” while others answered in unique and difficult-to-quantify ways. The numbers above are our best reflection of the data. We apologize for the lack of scientific approach here–any market researchers who want to pile on with advice, please email me at monika.maeckle@businesswire.com. To those who participated, thank you–-and how about helping with our next PR Peeps Poll: Do You Tweet the Links to Your Press Release? This poll is back to multiple choice. Business Wire

Press Releases and Pitches

I have been getting lots of questions about press releases, so here's some advice. Yes, journalists still read press releases, but it seems pitches are made more often and press releases are part of the supporting material once an interview is booked.

Pitches come in the form of an email or a phone call. If a reporter wants more information before confirming, he or she will usually request the press release.

The great thing about writing a press release is that it can be re-purposed:

1. Use them as blog entries.
2. List them in the “Press” or “News” tab of your website—this is where journalists go to research your organization.
3. Print them out and put them in packets you send to potential clients and investors.
4. Link to them in the social media outlets you use, such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

Here are ways to make your press releases effective:

1. Keep them short.
2. Have an attention-grabbing headline.
3. Answer who, what, when, where, why and how.
4. Include a quotation from the newsmaker.
5. Have contact information prominently displayed.
6. Put a date on them.
7. Do not exaggerate—be as accurate as a textbook.
8. Do not call to ask if it’s been received—reporters hate this intrusion.

With newspaper, radio and television outlets reducing their staff size for economic reasons, producers and editors are looking for shortcuts. And that means in some instances, your press release—if well-written—may end up, copy unchanged, as a news story.

Details that Derail

When you're trying to get publicity, pay attention to the details. Here are a few turn-offs that immediately tell producers you're not ready for prime-time:

1. Mistakes in your emails or press releases. Proof-read. If you can't get it right on a document that you've had time to work on, why should producers take a chance on you to get it right on live TV or radio?

2. Low energy telephone call. When you call to pitch, be just as high-energy, fun and peppy as you will be during an interview. If you speak too slowly and sound bored, the producer figures that's how you will sound for the guest spot and be afraid to book you.

3. Guest does not fit the format of the show. Do your research. A publicist pitched me for a book last week saying it was like "Sex and the City." When I laughed politely and said then it wouldn't be a good fit since a Baptist pastor owned our TV station, she replied, "Oh, I'm so embarrassed." I'll be very careful about taking her pitches in the future, since I realize she doesn't know who our audience is.

4. Distracted or disorganized. Be on point when you call a reporter or producer. They work in minutes and seconds for a living and will only give you a few seconds before losing patience. Talk quickly and tell them immediately why you are a good fit for their program.

Take care of the details and get positive publicity!

Cool Way to Send a Press Release

One of the public relations companies that routinely pitches guests to me for my daily talk show has started doing something that's definitely different--important with the dozens of books, emails and letters I get each day.

This company is sending its pitch on a thumb drive. To make the pitch even more solid, the logo of the guest's book or product is on the drive, and a video report is included with a press release and photos. I'm impressed. It undoubtedly costs more to make and send these drives than it would to just send a letter or email, but when you consider the cost of advertising or mailing preview books, the investment may be smart.

The drive alone doesn't sell me; the content still has to be right for our program. But in a world where catching attention is the first biggest hurdle, this works.

New Ways to Generate Publicity

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to a YouTube video she created. It was so clever and so timely, I asked her permission to air it on my morning talk show. She agreed and later asked me for a quote to put in a press release. I happily obliged. She wrote and posted the press release with a distribution service called "PR Web." I was notified through a Google alert! She has given me permission to share her press release. Maybe you can take a clever idea and leverage it like this, too.

Top Mom-Blogger Urges Mothers to Vote, Not Fight

After noticing that the nomination of Sarah Palin had re-ignited the "mommy wars," mom-blogger Dena Dyer created a Dr. Suess parody video called "Red (State) Mom, Blue (State) Mom" urging mothers to vote their beliefs, not fight about them.

Fredericksburg, Texas (PRWEB) October 18, 2008 -- The nomination of Sarah Palin has re-ignited the "mommy wars." Over water coolers, in chat rooms and in person, mothers are once again sparring over politics, childcare choices, and the work/life balance.
Award-winning mommy blogger Dena Dyer says, "It bothers me that so many mothers are up in arms, and that they are spending countless hours fighting about the candidates."Dyer has friends on both sides of the political spectrum, so she came up with a Dr. Suess parody that encourages moms to vote their beliefs, not fight about them. "Red (State) Mom, Blue (State) Mom" is based on the classic children's book One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxVugi06wyM.

The video was featured on FamilyNet's national morning show, "Mornings with Lorri & Larry." Co-host and guest coordinator Lorri Allen says, "We are always looking for timely stories on our morning talk show. Dena Dyer's Dr. Seuss parody was a perfect fit for us. She not only entertains, she also offers a peaceful solution to political bickering."

Dyer believes that moms have more in common than they think. "I've been a stay-at-home mom, at work-at-home mom, and a work-outside-the-home mom. I've had my kids in public and private schools, and I have a lot of friends that homeschool their children. And you know what? We moms are more alike than not. We tend to want the same things for our children, though we may disagree on how to get there."

She adds, "I hope moms will watch the video and laugh. I also hope they'll realize that the energy they're spending on battling other moms could be better spent on making the changes they long for a reality."

For more info, including the text to "Red (State) Mom, Blue (State) Mom," visit http://www.denadyer.com.