By George McQuade
West Coast Correspondent

Working with a freelance journalist is often the best way for a PR person to get ink for a client, 150 members of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society were told Oct. 20 in Hollywood. That's because editors are more inclined to listen to writers who regularly contribute to their publications. Freelancers also are more accessible than staff writers working on assignments under tough deadlines.

Susan Karlin

Susan Karlin, who writes about entertainment and technology, said publicists can make her life easier by providing a photo with their pitch. "Good bio's are also helpful and be honest. If someone says, 'It is the greatest thing ever,' I don't believe him. Also, don't bait and switch me. Never tell me 'We can't get this person we promised, but we have someone else, who really needs media placement,'" she said.

Karlin has contributed to Newsweek, Forbes, Fortune, the New York and Los Angeles Times, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, Oprah and Discover. She can be reached at skarlin@aol.com.

Gerry Miller doesn't want to be pestered by publicists.

Gerry Miller

"Don't e-mail your pitch five times, and the more specific your news angle the better your chances of getting your story published," she said. "I also really appreciate it when a PR pro reads the magazine or publication they're trying to get their client in."

Miller is an entertainment and lifestyle writer, editor and reporter who regularly contributes to an eclectic variety of outlets including More, Muscle & Fitness, Satellite Direct, glamour, CosmoGirl, Estylo, iVillage.com, Scholasticnews.com, Howstuffworks.com, Life & Style Weekly, Nickelodeon, National Geographic Kids, TV Week, The Detroit Jewish News, Southern California Senior Life, Lupus Now and Shuz.
She can be reached at: TallGerri@aol.com.

All about trust

"Having a good relationship with a freelance journalist is valuable, because you learn who makes the decisions at the publications and that's a great benefit," said Michael Logan, who has been a weekly columnist and contributing editor at TV Guide since 1989.

Michael Logan

"Editors are moving constantly, and one interview can really end up as a multi-placement for your client. The writer becomes your publishing assistant with three or four articles. It's a trust factor. You need to be specific in your angles and know what we write about," he said.

Logan has written celebrity profiles for Trump World magazine, New York Post's Sunday Magazine, TV Week, Los Angeles magazine and TV Guide Canada. He is also the editor of Personal Journey, a quarterly magazine published by Primedia which focuses on spiritual topics. He can be reached at: (310) 470-0153 and he prefers e-mail: Logantvg@aol.com.

When asked if the Internet has helped or bogged down freelance writers, Logan responded this way, "The Internet is an avenue for people who write weekly or monthly publications, because you can get out instantly. It also a huge pain in the butt. It makes all the more difficult to get material that is fresh and different from what everybody else has.

"The announcements of TV networks on shows have become so problematic that it is hard to do stories on them, because they are announced on the Internet just days before they air. It completely eliminated any option of getting into TV Guide. Where the Internet does help is that you have the ability to almost post things instantly," he said.

Miki Turner

Miki Turner writes for many African-American publications, but doesn't want to "boxed into that corner, because I also write independently personality profiles for mainstream media, too. I love to do authors, so send me your book with a short pitch. Make your pitches relevant."

Turner began her career at the Cincinnati Enquirer and has written for Oakand Tribune, Orange County Register, Satellite Obit and Satellite Direct magazines, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ESPN.com and is now a producer on ESPN Hollywood. She also writes for the Chicago Tribune and Upscale magazine.

Turner also does freelance products for Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the BBC. You can reach her at (323) - 762- 7814 or by email, which she prefers: Dmiki@aol.com.