IABC Media Relations Commons

Oh, so simple.

“Rich, would you contribute to the Media Relations blog a couple of times a week?”

“Sure, Natasha.”

What could be easier?

And I get ready to make my first post, and already Natasha and Rolf are engaged in a philosophical discussion.

I disagreed a bit, and now, I’ve posted about that, and away we go.

But this is a blog, dagnabbit, so I’m going to follow my own style, thankyouverymuch.

The easiest way to figure out whether someone has anything useful to say in a newsgroup or blog is simply to read his stuff. You do that. And write back.

But here’s a bit more info than the brief Barger bio that IABC has kindly posted.

I’ve worked in media, as an editorial assistant on a couple of weekly trade magazines, and as an editor and senior editor of a wire service. The trade magazine gig was with a five-person staff, and it was not unheard-of to produce the entire 68- to 120-page weekly book with only two of us, while three traveled. Editorial assistant, my Aunt Fanny.

I also did time as Managing Editor of the 18-person PR division of an ad agency/marketing communications company. Along with editing other people’s stuff, I’ve written more news releases and media kits and feature articles and magazine and newsletter copy than most people in this industry, and edited hundreds more.

I’ve pitched, and I’ve been pitched.

And now, along with operating a strategic communications consultancy, I’m an editor again, running a tiny-staffed, far-too-infrequently updated Web site for MR, PR, and communications pros. But, along with CornerBarPR.com, we have an inexpensive, on-line database of roughly 60,000 U.S. media contacts, which we do keep up to date. And that brings me full circle, back to MR.

Agree with us, argue with us, start a new topic, whatever. It’s more interesting for everyone if you share your ideas, tell us your hot buttons, and comment on the good, the bad, and the ugly of media relations.

Keep them cards ‘n letters comin’, y’hear?

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 7th, 2006 at 6:37 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.