Blogs v.s. Journalism - Be Careful What You Wish For

EPPS Treasurer Bob Werden: "Use Blogs With Caution"

Blogs vs. Journalism

by George McQuade
West Coast Correspondent
www.Odwyerpr.com

Publicists have to be careful when dealing with bloggers because some of them play fast and lose with the facts, Bob Werden, co-founder of Entertainment Publicists Professional Society, told the group's winter mixer held at the Los Angeles Times' Chandler Auditorium. The event was sponsor by Business Wire in downtown Los Angeles.

A blogger could write that the world is flat and that nugget could remain forever on the Internet, he explained.

Jim Arnold, an independent publicist in Hollywood, feels the jury is still out on blogs, and that it will take years before leaders emerge in the blogosphere.

Technorati reports there are more than 61 million blogs and about 175,000 new ones created each day. Thirty-four percent of the group identify themselves as journalists.

Publish then apologize

While Hollywood Publicist Ron Carter criticized bloggers who publish then apologize, Lance Webster, of LW Communications, noted that the mainstream media also make mistakes. "Does TMZ.com get it wrong sometimes, yes, but so do TV newspaper critics, and we've had entertainment critics since the '20s and '30s."

Webster, who produces TPEC Guide, a media reference directorY for entertainment publicists, said it is all about "who pays attention to the news they generate and which blog gets the breaking news."

Amy Morganroth (left), a student from Loyola Marymount, won an O'Dwyer's Directory at the EPPS event.

The former EPPS secretary Lance Webster provided the following advice for pitching blogs:
1. Identify and monitor relevant blogs that cover your clients or industry;

2. Visit about 10 -15 and determine which ones appear to do a good job;

3. Check back when you find a good match and subscribe to them;

4. Don't call bloggers, email them they're always online, and

5. Mostly importantly, update them. Bloggers don't have the same limitation of a newspaper or magazine.

"People who trust TV critics and writers will trust their blogs, but it is a delicate dance," said Webster.

He is giving a $50 discount on the $250 cover price of the TPEC Guide to anyone who mentions either odwyerpr.com or this article. Call 818/787-9550.

Publicists network twice a year at EPPS mixers (top left), while LA Times editors catch up on issues of The Envelope, (center) Lance Webster hands Eileen Salamas a TPEC door prize. Brenda Ortiz, LA-Tinos (bottom R), Kathy Buevara, Reyes Ent. and EPPS Board Member Flo Selfman pose for a shot in front of The Envelope.

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