Business Wire Charlotte hosted a breakfast on September 29th in Greensboro, NC to discuss “All Things Feature Release.” The discussion, led by Greensboro-area PR and media professionals, revolved around the best practices for getting your feature news noticed. The panel of speakers included:
- Gerri Hunt, Managing Editor, Kids Today Magazine
- Susan Ladd, Features Editor, The News & Record
- Mary Leigh Wallace, VP, RLF Communications
Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:
- Always try to spin a local angle into your features article.
- Always include multimedia. Even if an editor doesn’t have time to write an original article about your story, they can fill space with your photo and caption.
- It is never to early to send in a features release. Some Features editors plan months ahead, you should plan in advance, too.
- If you plan to email a features article to an editor, don’t forget the basics in email etiquette. Save the cute headline for the release. The subject line should show basic info.
- Make your features story evergreen. Make it timely tomorrow and timely six months from now (except for obviously seasonal topics).
- Local papers don’t have enough staff to write a story for you. Provide the whole package for them: local angle, multimedia, quotes.
Don’t forget to check out Business Wire’s Feature Topic Series.
Local Business Wire offices host several events each year on PR, IR, SEO & media topics. Check out the Business Wire Events page to find upcoming events in your area.
Follow Business Wire events on Twitter! Hash tag #bwevents
Posted by Amy Yen, Marketing Specialist, Business Wire 
ooking to connect with high-profile consumer and lifestyle editors in the industry. 
