Swedish media monitoring company Observer owns a media directory in the US called Bacon’s. They have approached me and a large number of PR bloggers with a request for us to confirm that the information they have about us is accurate (see Micropersuasion and the comments of this post for further names who have been contacted).
“Bacon’s Help Top Journalists Like You
As you know, PR professionals rely upon correct information for contacting the media, and you know how irritating it can be to receive information on topics and beats you don’t cover. Please click on the link below for a quick survey that will provide us with this important information. Bacon’s wants to help you, but we can’t do it without you. Thank you.”
So I went to the website to see what info they have on me.
“Media Culpa is a blog based out of Sweden offering an international critique on the interaction between media and public relations.”
Not too far off the mark, is it? Now I don’t mind being listed in Bacon’s at all, it’s actually flattering. But besides boosting my ego, an interesting part is that “Bacon’s lists blogs compiled by journalists“. So who is a journalist? I don’t consider myself a journalist, but I am the editor of a medium, which I guess is enough to make me a target of different news pitches. Either way, it’s fascinating that a bunch of PR bloggers have become so influential that we are considered top journalists.
Pitching bloggers is not an easy task. In a white paper (download at www.bacons.com) Bacon’s write that they have listed “more than 690 top blogs contained in the MediaMap Premium Content solutions” and I guess mine is one of them. Regarding how to approach bloggers they write:
“Do not send press releases to bloggers. Bacon’s generally covers these journalists at their primary media outlets, so press releases can be sent to these contacts only as it relates to their professional outlets. Instead of sending press releases and press kits to bloggers, send tips, news, and samples of products. Press releases have a purpose, but they should not be viewed as a means to building relationships with journalists. The fundamentals of working with journalist bloggers are the same as with journalists at traditional media outlets: respect their time (or lack thereof), take the time to read their material and understand what topics they are interested in, and only then contact them with a newsworthy story in the way they want.”
But since I’m not a journalist blogger I don’t have a primary media outlet other than my blog. My only advice on how to pitch bloggers is to read their blogs to see if they are positive about being approached, for what topics, and how. Steve Rubel wants pitches via del.icio.us, Niklas at Researcher wants them via email (he even asks for them on his blog). I seldom write about stuff that people pitch me, but it happens if they’re spot on.