Portland-based Newsvetter, a service designed to enhance the relationship between the media and those who would love to influence them, has released a BETA version of its product to the public.
The product provides a simple—but much needed—filter that promises to help both sides of the media exchange communicate more clearly and intelligently with one another.
News presenters submit story ideas after completing an online vetting questionnaire. The vetting questionnaire contains a list of key questions asked by the news media when evaluating stories for publication. News media review the submissions, provide feedback in the form of ratings and comments, and, if warranted, contact news presenters to discuss possible publication of their story ideas.
While there isn’t a great deal of content to be found in the service at this point (you could do something to change that, hint hint), the idea has definite merit. I think it’s worth a test drive. And if you’d like to consider using it as a way to pitch stories to the Silicon Florist (again, hint hint), please feel free.
Newsvetter was released by Single Cell, a Portland-area public relations firm. For more information or to test drive the service, visit Newsvetter.
(Hat tip Lev Tsypin)
Comments are closed.
Jeff,
Thanks for the feedback. These are some good suggestions. People using Newsvetter need to be aware that it’s not designed to create press releases. It’s really an alternative to or replacement for press releases. However, whether you submit news as a press release or go through Newsvetter’s vetting process, communications people still need to address the questions posed on the site’s vetting questionnaire. I spent a great deal of time researching and interviewing reporters who cover various beats and these were the questions that were most frequently cited. At the end of the day, what’s important to reporters is that you demonstrate why your news matters and why it is relevant to them. In my experience, the press release is not a great vehicle for doing this. Besides, the Internet has provided new and better ways for delivering news (like this blog for instance). Again, I appreciate your feedback. Please feel free to contact me with any other suggestions.
I just used NewsVetter to get some more exposure on a press release for a client of mine.
I love the idea though I’ve gotta admit that it still needs some tweaking. There is no section at all for what one might consider the ‘body’ of any sort of news release. I guess the questions that are required to be answered attempt to serve that purpose but not all of the questions fit every newsworthy item.
Finally, I couldn’t figure out how to get a simple title to appear for my story. The first field on the form seemed like it would be for the title I wanted people to see but it didn’t show up in the final listing that was created.
I give it a 6 out of 10 with the potential to be a 7 or 8 with just a few adjustments and the possibility of a 10 if the site takes off.
Good work!