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The Lifecycle of a Media Relations Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 4, 2006
2006 Stuttgart uploaded by magnetisch Based on the popularity of the last post , I’m linking to a presentation outlining the lifecycle of a media relations pitch.
2006 Related Topics 
Creative Use of ProfNet Gets Ink
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 18, 2006
NEW YORK, NY—December 19, 2006—The Morris + King Company (MKC), one of the country’s most innovative and accomplished public relations and integrated marketing firms, today issued the first-ever “Best ProfNet Queries of the Year” list. Nov 17, 2006 05:00 PM 1.
Strike Three: Adam Mazur of Rubenstein PR is OUTed for the “Who Cares” Pitches
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 20, 2006
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:05:18 PM Subject: TRUMP MORTGAGE EXPERT AVAILABLE TO COMMENT ON WALL STREET''S "MORTGAGE OF CHOICE" NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION PRODUCT MAY BE “MORTGAGE OF CHOICE” FOR WALL STREET THIS YEAR - This one really made my pants tight.
Cut & Paste PR Spam
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 15, 2006
OK folks. Those who know me personally will represent and tell you that I am not a mean-spirited person. But wtf is this crap? Here''s some PR spam I received this afternoon.
The Debbie Does Data Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 27, 2006
Ziff-Davis TechTarget exec, journalist and blogger Sean Gallagher sent us a pitch with a subject line that sinks to a new low. Sean notes: "This subject line almost automatically destined the pitch it was attached to for my spam bucket. But like a rubber-necker passing a car crash, I had to look."
The Insecurity Blanket Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 1, 2006
BTW, this is the follow-up after I ignored his original message.” -- From: PR GUY Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 8:17 PM To: SHEL Subject: Re: CLIENT podcast Sorry. Our first episode premiered on February 15th, 2006, and was downloaded over 2000 times.
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Bad Pitches? Do Less & More in 2007
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 31, 2006
New Year’s resolutions are crap. It takes more than a new calendar and blind optimism to make a change in your life. But the Bad Pitch blog tries to provide timely, relevant content.
Bad Pitch Book Review: Can We Do That?!
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 30, 2006
Just finished reading Peter Shankman’s book, Can We Do That?! It covers a lot of ground from PR basics, media relations and events to creative thinking, crisis communications and account management. Shankman’s conversational style makes it an easy read (no small feat for non-fiction).
Brand Dysfunction
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 23, 2006
It''s not our thing to make fun of folks, but heck it''s Christmas so I say, let''s do it! Ed Begley is an ok actor and I liked him on St. Elsewhere, he was craggy good as the hairdresser and Ruth''s love interest on Six Feet Under.
Who Pitched Christmas?
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 22, 2006
Slick here. On behalf of the Bad Pitch Blog, I want to wish you and yours all the best during this holiday season. I’m all about the c-word and the 3 ho’s. These guys are a bit more politically correct. Anyways, they tell me I’ll be working over the break, but who knows.
Is Your Swag Lipstick on a Pig?
Bad Pitch Blog
DECEMBER 2, 2006
Yeah, we’ve been quiet. It’s the holiday season, get used to it. As we sift through the backlog of media relations atrocities sent to us, we submit this true story.
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Bad Pitches by the Pound
Bad Pitch Blog
MAY 31, 2006
This includes our signature dish: "Three Strikes and You''re Out-ed." - Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 20:04:05 -0700 (PDT) From: NAME To: BAD PITCH BLOG EMAIL Subject: live campiagn intro to bloggers Dear I just recently started a blog called the BLOG NAME. We''ve started a Bad Pitch Buffet of sorts.
Hot Babes with Leather Balls and Cool Bookies
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 7, 2006
From: Charlie Bernard Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 10:32 AM To: ANONYMOUS Subject: Story Idea Hello NAME , Are You Ready For Hot Women, Gambling, and Football?!?!?!?! We were dealt into the next bad pitch by an anonymous member of the news media.
Much Ado About Nothing
Bad Pitch Blog
NOVEMBER 5, 2006
With apologies to The Bard , set your microscope on hella-small as we examine the lamest part of most any news release—the boilerplate. The Bulldog Reporter defines boilerplate as “text that is reused, as at the end of a news release or in a legal document.
Anaheim Mayor Pitches American Idol?
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 23, 2006
From: NAME on Behalf Of John James Nicoletti Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 2:50 PM Subject: ANAHEIM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL URGE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANT Please contact me with further questions regarding this release.
Oxfam’s Social Media Relations Raise Awareness and Funds
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 19, 2006
Instead the Gold Group helped Oxfam capitalize on a unique donation from actress Keira Knightley—a Vera Wang dress she wore to the 2006 Oscars. Just when you thought we were all Bad, here''s Glinda the Good Pitch. Glinda is a badge of honor bestowed on some of the good pitches we get.
Steamroller PR: A Psychological Profile
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 23, 2006
They say sled dogs will run until they drop if you let them. Hunger, pain and other warning signals can fall silent as the desire to run is built into their DNA. A special group of PR people are an odd cousin to the sled dog.
Picture This Bad Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 18, 2006
In a short period of time, the Bad Pitch blog has seen a lot of crappy media relations. But this is a first—a pitch so bad the reporter outed it on Flickr. Not sure what Flickr is? No cookie for you. There are plenty of ways Flickr can keep your PR skills sharp. Check it out.
The Spectre of Doom Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
MAY 9, 2006
Subject: Kiefer Sutherland foils terror plot at shopping mall From: SENIOR AE To: SENIOR AE Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 6:11 PM The most recent episode of "24" on FOX had terrorists releasing nerve gas into the ventilation system of a fictional shopping mall.
“Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics”
Bad Pitch Blog
MAY 4, 2006
We’re invoking the above, oft-used quote to set the stage for two doozies. Both news releases show how research sells the story— regardless of whether or not that story is news. American Idol" fans do not idly cast their votes.
Good Pitches, Social Media bring Chevy Success
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 2, 2006
We knew Glinda would be back as soon as we glanced at this pitch from The McGinn Group’s Nellie Lide. Subject: chevy''s trying more co-creation Kevin- Some lucky (and talented) Gen Yers will create Chevy’s 2007 Super Bowl Ad. Here’s the blogger press release: [link].
10 Award-Winning Hacks
Bad Pitch Blog
OCTOBER 1, 2006
Back in May, my PRSA chapter judged another chapter’s annual awards program. Fifteen binder-stuffed boxes were sent for our review. Spending time with one of those BIG boxes inspired some ideas on how to improve award entries.
The Bare Ass Booze Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2006
Nudity and liquor seem like a sure-fire combo to get the media’s attention. After all, this headline got your attention. But sometimes PR people can over share on behalf of their clients. This is one of those times.
A News Release is NOT a Pitch!
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 22, 2006
Poynter’s Amy Gahran will delete any unsolicited news releases sent to her, labeling them as spam. Techdirt also joins the discussion with reference to Valleywag’s snarky ire for Tech PR''s approach to media relations. You should read the comments at all of these posts.
Bad Pitch Blog World Tour
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
OK, we have more geographic reach online than off, but Richard and I are out and about spreading the good word about bad pitches and wanted to let you know the details. Cue the ad. This morning I’m in Chicago presenting at Ragan’s 10th Annual Strategic Public Relations Conference.
MAYO Responds to Slick
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2006
The Bad Pitch blog received its first response from someone it outed. We’ve outed eight offenders since starting this party nine months ago. MAYO is the first to engage in the conversation around their Slick-worthy pitches. We always email the guilty parties when we award them a badge of dishonor.
Strike Three: MAYO Communications is OUTed for Auto Pilot PR
Bad Pitch Blog
SEPTEMBER 8, 2006
Hold the MAYO. Oh, wait. You can’t hold it, or stop it. Asking MAYO to stop sending you pitches news releases doesn’t work. After a request to stop, MAYO still sends bad pitches news releases to Blake Barbera. Barbera left the PR industry four months ago to pursue another career.
Media Relations Angst in August?
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 28, 2006
We received a question from a reader we’ll refer to as Nonplussed. Nonplussed is pitching for a couple of clients to trade, business and consumer media and experiencing a dramatic dip in August coverage.
Snakes On A Soapbox
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 27, 2006
I knew that would get your attention. Last year the phrase was “couch jumping,” alluding to did you go off the deep end? This time it’s “Anakes On A Plane,” meaning have you hyped a new product on a blog or a vlog and did it totally screw with corporate expectations?
The "From Russia with Love" Pitch
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 5, 2006
From: EMAIL Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 9:22 AM To: PHIL Subject: Traditional Dating Sites Overshadowed.- Phil Gomes is a busy man. In between his new group blog, Talkshop , and the earSHOT podcast for Edelman, he spoke at last week’s New Comm Forum.
10 Reporter Hacks
Bad Pitch Blog
AUGUST 6, 2006
Pardon the pun, but the Bad Pitch blog is pleased to bring you 10 tips to improving your approach to media relations. Now let’s be clear—the biggest media relations mistake people make is not taking the time to do their homework. This list is NOT a short cut to good media relations.
From Pitch to Pink Slip…Bad Pitches Equal Unemployment
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 24, 2006
Pitches seem to be reaching an all-time low. It’s getting so bad that two people recently lost their jobs over pitches they distributed. Gawker tells us of a racist pitch so misguided that its sender is lucky if unemployment is the only consequence of her actions.
Uh Timing Uh Uh Uh Is Everything
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 6, 2006
Melinda, Bill and Warren announce to the world they are ganging up on all the vaccines in the world. It''s really pretty wonderful. You get the feeling there is no spin there and from BPB to them, we say Mazel Tov.
Sony Is Really Pushing It
Bad Pitch Blog
JULY 6, 2006
Racism is a hard one to pass up, and so the Bad Pitch Blog was taken aback by friends who sent the awful Sony PlayStation ad we can''t seem to stop looking at. Oh no. It worked. See picture.) The ad got us to stare. But then again, what do you expect?
Greenpeace Screws the Pooch
Bad Pitch Blog
JUNE 2, 2006
Sam, the world’s ugliest dog and Greenpeace’s new, temporary and completely unofficial mascot. No one’s perfect. Typos happen to all of us… especially even the BPB. But the Philadelphia Inquirer brings us a really ugly and embarrassing typo committed by Greenpeace.
A Good Pitch to Business 2.0’s Blog
Bad Pitch Blog
MAY 7, 2006
Spoke to a Xavier University communications class a few weeks back. Energizing a room of collegiates, late into a beautiful afternoon, is no small feat. But I only detected one person sleeping. We discussed the media relations lifecycle, briefly touching on blogs and how to pitch them—if at all.
Strike Three: Jackie Zima of Gregory FCA Communications is OUT-ed
Bad Pitch Blog
APRIL 11, 2006
This pitch from Jackie Zima of Gregory FCA Communications stinks so bad it was singled out by five media outlets including the Philadelphia Inquirer, PR Week and the New York Daily News. The multiple sources sending it our way did so within minutes of each other.
Agency PR Shows its Pride
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 23, 2006
In just 10 days, 50 public relations professionals have signed the Bad Pitch petition to show their pride in the public relations industry. From Canada’s BC to Australia’s GC , pros from around the world are stopping by and signing up.
“Mommy, We Get Dead Pitches”
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 19, 2006
Dying to get ink? Unless you work for a funeral home, casket manufacturer or some other rare exceptions , death is NOT a tie-in to your story.
PR Industry: Stand & Be Counted
Bad Pitch Blog
MARCH 15, 2006
We''ve come a long way from 1917 propaganda to today''s authentic, transparent conversations. But we''re using James Montgomery Flagg''s handiwork to rally our industry together and demonstrate our pride in public relations.**
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