June 27, 2011

Romenesko Misc. | Forbes.com
An email sent this morning by PR Daily publisher Ragan Communications promotes an upcoming $159 seminar (“Pitch me, Baby”) featuring “a video rebroadcast” of New York Times tech columnist David Pogue’s favorite PR pitches. The reader who forwarded the email to me writes:

It doesn’t seem right that a company is selling a presentation made by a New York Times journalist. I wonder if David Pogue knows they are doing that? It sounds like a great presentation, but should people be paying a third party for this?

Mark Ragan tells me that Pogue knows about the presentation, but the CEO declines to discuss compensation. (“Our transactions are private.”) He says Newsweek technology editor Dan Lyons also asked about the Pogue video event, “and he charges $10,000 per speaking gig. …Everyone uses Pogue as a pinata.” I’ve emailed the tech journalist for comment and will post his response when/if it comes in. || Jeff Bercovici: NYT prohibits staff from participating in PR workshops. The paper says Pogue’s editors “are discussing this outside engagement with him.” || Read the seminar pitch after the jump.

From: PR Daily
Date: June 27, 2011 8:24:51 AM EDT
To:
Subject: NYT’s David Pogue on great PR pitching: This top tech columnist shares his favorite pitches

Dear PR/Media Relations Professional,

This should come as no news to you –

Most press releases do more damage than good. They’re loaded with buzzwords and corporate-speak that turn off most journalists.

In this video rebroadcast of our most popular 2011 media relations session, New York Times tech columnist David Pogue goes through the best and worst pitches he’s received.

“Pitch me, Baby!”
Monday, July 11
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

For the low price of $159 ($139 if you’re a Ragan Select member), you’ll get the following invaluable instruction:
What you should NEVER do when pitching a reporter
Why you should be passionate about pitching perfection
Pogue’s five “pitch pet peeves”
How to be clever and imaginative when pitching a story (complete with David’s favorite examples)
Real-life pitches: the great, the good and the ugly

Can’t attend this live virtual event? Your registration includes a FREE DVD that you can watch at your desk or in a conference room with your co-workers.

Support high-integrity, independent journalism that serves democracy. Make a gift to Poynter today. The Poynter Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, and your gift helps us make good journalism better.
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From 1999 to 2011, Jim Romenesko maintained the Romenesko page for the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based non-profit school for journalists. Poynter hired him in August…
Jim Romenesko

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