FREE PR: Six Useful Internet Resources For Enhancing Publicity Efforts

For PR and in-house marketing professionals charged with securing news coverage, the Internet offers an array of resources to enhance and support their efforts. Following are some of my favorites and all of them are free.

1) PRFORUM
A discussion group focusing on public relations issues, PRFORUM joins hundreds of PR professionals and journalists around the world in a forum where members learn from the diverse experiences of others. Crisis management; effective pitching; current media lists; press kit design; job opportunities and other topics, as well as PR news of the day, are common discussions. Rather than searching a bulletin board or Web site, messages are sent to all members by e-mail. Monitoring this mailing list and offering insightful contributions positions you as a credible authority on the subject under discussion and may attract contact from journalists and spark networking opportunities. Find PRFORUM and other mailing lists by searching at http://www.liszt.com, http://www.tile.net, http://www.topica.com, or http://www.egroups.com.

2) PRWeb
Although PRWeb offers articles and tips on how to succeed in public relations, its free press release posting service is its most useful asset. Submitted by e-mail, press releases are reviewed and then posted by category for anyone to read. A searchable database enables journalists and others to find information by topic, industry, company or other keyword. The site also lists PR firms with background descriptions at no charge. http://www.prweb.com

3) AJR NewsLink
Billing itself as a "comprehensive listing of worldwide news media," AJR NewsLink offers a searchable database of links to the Web sites of daily and weekly newspapers, business publications, magazines and broadcast media internationally. For journalists, the site features media industry news and job opportunities. http://ajr.newslink.org

4) Electronic Newsstand
Its goal is similar to Newslink's but the Electronic Newsstand focuses on the electronic media and features a growing list of e-zines, which are published electronically with no printed counterpart. http://www.image.dk/~knud-sor/en/

5) E-mail Media
An impressive collection of e-mail addresses and contact names of editors and reporters at newspapers, magazines, electronic and broadcast media. The site invites contributions. http://www.gugerell.co/at/gugerell/media/index.htm (This site is inactive since publication of this article.)

6) EXPOguide
A directory of more than 7,000 trade shows internationally, EXPOguide offers event promoters free show listings with links to official show Web sites. For potential exhibitors and attendees, the site features a searchable database for shows by industry, geography or keyword. http://www.expoguide.com

PR Tip of the Month: To get the e-mail addresses of New York Times personnel, send an e-mail to staff@nytimes.com. The list will appear in your e-mail.

The Internet offers hundreds of other resources and more are coming online daily. If there are others you find useful, please let me know by e-mail at ideas@eprmarketing.com.

--Paul Entin is president of epr, a full service marketing and PR firm based in Hunterdon County, NJ.