New from VMS: Review key broadcast coverage from all 210 DMAs in real time

Introducing VMS RealTime, the all-new Web-based television search and monitoring service that gives you all your broadcast coverage from all 210 DMAs within minutes of airing. And with VMS' unique, fully-digital, nationwide broadcast monitoring network, you can get digital copies of your news segments delivered to you quickly and at a lower cost. Try RealTime now FREE for 30 days: http://www.vmsinfo.com/realtime

Critical Mention (www.criticalmention.com), a leader in global broadcast intelligence solutions, has announced the launch of the Critical Archive, a historical search index of television closed caption text that dates back to the company's launch in 2003. The service is expected to fill an enormous information void for PR and Corporate Communications professionals, the company says. In addition, the archive is expected to expand the company's client base to include the Libraries at law firms, universities and government agencies, advertisers and other knowledge-workers across the enterprise...

By Brian Pittman

"I find the [PR] folks at Northwestern and Duke to be on the ball. What makes them that way? The stuff they send is newsworthy and written well," says Adam Martin, senior editor at Time Inc.'s Health magazine, and also an active freelance writer in the finance arena who has recently completed assignments for Merrill Lynch, the Navy Federal Credit Union and Meredith Corp.

In addition to timely, topical and accurate pitches and releases, Martin says journalists in health and beyond appreciate ideas that contain supporting research and statistics: "I got a good pitch about a new wrinkle–removal technique that helped us develop a plastic surgery story," he relates. "What made it great were the details on the procedure, the name dropping on who was having it, the stats on plastic surgery popularity and availability"...

This week's profile, Jim Courtney, Deputy Commissioner, Communications, Social Security Administration

Many traditional PR firms and departments recognize that Web 2.0–oriented conversation and community building are increasingly key components of driving brand, buzz and visibility these days—yet few know how to take those first critical steps into the emerging, and often tricky, medium. To help those struggling to make the leap (or, at least, dip their toes) into social media, we approached what may be viewed as one of the most conservative (i.e., not cutting edge) institutions in the country and asked for their insights...

 

By Frank Zeccola

The anniversary celebration is a common pitch that lands in the email inboxes and fax machines of almost every business and lifestyle editor in the country, regardless of their outlet's focus, coverage or location. Here at Bulldog Reporter, for example, we constantly see pitches for the anniversaries of everything from law firms and banks to makeup companies, film festivals and dog?walking services. As a trade publication covering the PR and media industries, this is puzzling...