Hollywood, CA –   LA Times Entertainment Editors media workshop offered up more than the usual PR insider tips recentlyh at the ICG Local 600 Union Auditorium, Hollywood, CA. (Nov. 18, 2010).

While one editor of an well known LA Times blog and print version of movie news, movers and shakers admitted she “doesn’t Tweet, or Facebook, except for to her friends.” We found that a little odd, since every man, boy pilot and bawanna are now into Social Media, when only  a year ago, most publicist were afraid of it and really thought it was extra work. It is extra work, but it has also become a big busines to some, even though a headache to others.

This was the superbowl of all media workshops when it comes to face-to-face meetings with the editors who put all the entertainment out through the LA Times. Even the editor was there, deleting inmails while particpating at the workshop. Now, that’s what I call multitasking….hmmm..hope it was my clients story pitch, though that got vaporized.

Lisa Fung, LAT

 

The consensus in contacting editors or pitching a story and the best advice comes from Panelist Lisa Fung, Online Arts and Entertainment Editor, LA Times.
“Just forget that you have a phone, so email me your pitch and I will get back to you as soon as possible that’s the best way for me to get back to you. I just received 80 emails sitting here.”
Fung says social media brings tons of traffic to the LA Times website and blogs.
The last time I checked LAT Twitter had 93,000+ followers, too.
Online Arts and Entertainment Editor Lisa Fung says the best way to pitch everyone is by email.  During the meeting she noted that 80 emails had just come in, and she was deleting many in her inbox while
listening to other panelists.
She currently oversees round-the-clock multimedia coverage of all arts and entertainment, including Calendar. The Envelope, Company, Town and more than a dozen latimes.com blogs. To Reach her email: Lisa.Fung@latimes.com.
One of the pet peaves of editors is sending multiple email pitches, which could be the kiss of death. Randall Roberts reminded everyone about the email overload.
Randall Roberts, pop music editor, LA Times said,” he relies on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc where there are a lot of thoughtful people who share stories, trends and ideas.”
Randall Roberts, LA Times

Roberts also echoed earlier comments that social media drives traffic, and influences his decisions on story assignments. Often Robert says, he gets a lot of people who care about what he writes, and trend stories often pop up on Twitter and Facebook.

Roberts currently oversees all of the rock, pop, hip hop, electronic, world music, soundtrack and country coverage – basically everything except jazz and classical. Randall seems to be the most interesting of all of the panelist, because he really talk about how, and where he gets his stories, and less about pet peaves of publicists he deals with. So you should add him on your Twitter and Facebook account, just to learn what stories turn the LAT on. Oh, by the way, the Calendar sectioni of LAT is the “Most Read” part of the paper according to the business editor at another industry workshop I attended, which is why I went to this one in Hollywood.
Before coming to the LA Times, Roberts served as music editor at LA Weekly. To reach him email is best at: Randal.Roberts@latimes.com.
Joy Press, Pop Culture & Deputy Television editor also told Entertainment Publicists to “keep your pitches short as “we are working on both print and Online versions of the Times.”
Pop Culture & Deputy Television Editor Joy Press also prefers email pitches from publicists. Press says they are always looking for good trend stories.

Press, before arriving at the Times, she was the culture editor at Salon.com, where she oversaw the entertainment, books and lifestyle sections and blogs.

She has written widely about TV, movies, music and all facets of popular culture.

(Joy.Press@latimes.com).

The Los Angeles Times Entertainment has several sections of the newspaper:  MOVIES TVMUSIC CELEBRITY ARTS & CULTURE COMPANY TOWN CALENDAR ENVELOPE BOOKS
Elena Howe, The Envelope Editor says she does not Tweet and does Faceboook “only with friends,” however she says “it will be her new goal to do it by the end of next year.”

Howe also says The Envelope does not take client photos or handouts, but rather relies heavily on the wire image news services.
Howe chronicles the highs and lows of the Hollywood award season as the editor of The Envelope.
Elena Howe, The Envelope Editor
She was previously an assistant editor for SoCal Living at the Times and has previously served as LIfestyle and news editor at several California publications. (Elena.Howe@latimes.com)
Howe also prefers email pitches on all stories.
The Envelope offers complete coverage of the Academy Awards, Oscar nominations, Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, red carpet fashion, news, celebrity gossip and more.
This lady has the most fun job, because she gets to stay up late at night attending all of those entertainment events, mixers and exclusive VIP parties, and then get up early in the morning. Best adice don’t call me in the early morning. Email me plase,” she said with lots of energy, and she really meant it. I think if you did call her early, she would probably never return your calls even if you had
God as a client.
Be sure to check out the images of the event on FACEBOOK @http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28363&id=152273848144795
and subscribe to this blog for future posts in your email. thx.
Sally Hofsmeiseter was the editor last year when The LA Times had The Envelope Launch kick-off party, October 2009.
The Winter and Summer EPPS mixer events are free to anyone interested.
Nikki Pesusich, CFO, Coterie Public Relations @EPPS LAT media workshop

Anyone reading this blog can contact us to learn more about EPPS and how to join, or be our guest at the next media workshop.

Nikki Pesusich, CFO, Coterie Public Relations @EPPS LAT media workshop, who won the EPPS door prize 2010 O’Dwyer PR directory (top 2,000 PR firms in USA) @ www.odwyerpr.com, Manhattan, NY.

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For information about EPPS visit:www.eppsonline.org.
For entertainment publicity contact George Mc Quade
past president, EPPS, board member about this story.
or
Publicity@mayocommunications.com or call 818-340-5300.
Mc Quade is also the West Coast Bureau Chief
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