Media Relations Summit

The Media Relations Summit (#MRS09) has been interesting. Not only did I get to see former colleagues and rekindle some old memories from the good ol’ TEKgroup days but I have also met some very lovely contacts that I hope to have a lasting relationship with. Since I have been laid off and looking for a job, this year’s Bulldog Media Relations conference has been the best networking I have done in three months. In the past a networking lunch or tweet up has been great but nothing really promising has come from it!

I started off with a seminar of journalists in the men’s sector: Playboy, Men’s Journal, and Details magazines. All were very helpful in explaining how they would like to be pitched. Whether it be snail mail, email, or twitter pitches, all the journalist’s at the conference that I have sat in with seem to have a consensus that “common sense and good manners” (from Alex Fedorak from the Underdog seminar) is all it takes to get noticed. As well as an effective, clear, and TO THE POINT pitch according to a few others that I heard from in various seminars. I find it overwhelmingly pleasing that I have always tried to stick to this method of PR without even being told to do so. To me it is just common courtesy to not annoy another professional. I understand journalists are busy as well as I am.

Overall the past two days of networking, and thanks to my former boss Ibrey Woodall, I have met some great contacts who might just help me towards the direction of a few opportunities in this career I am trying to build!