a greater readership for print publications.   6. Gain a producer or editors interest in one paragraph rather than inundate them with materials. Avoid sending lengthy press kits.   7. Email your pitch to a producer or editor. Many members of the media respond more quickly via email. But be respectful. Email only a paragraph and make sure your headline is a real head-turner. Never send attachments. 8. Include all your contact information. Not including your cell phone, pager number, fax, phone, or email can mean making or missing an interview for a story.   9. Become a walking sound-bite. Be ready to be interviewed at any time.   10. Be Persistent. If you havent come up with the right angle today, try again, and again, and again.     8 PR Pitch "Etiquette" Secrets from Bill Stoller of PublicityInsider.com   1. Dont call to "see if they got your release." Journalists hate this. If you really want to get a story in the Post, call first to pitch your story and then follow up with your release, photos, etc.   2. Plan your call around their deadlines. Most papers are morning editions. Thus, journalists deadlines range from 2 p.m. local time and on. Dont call during this time! The best time to reach a newspaper journalist: 10 a.m. to noon local time.   3. Dont start pitching right away! This is rude, as the editor may be on the other line, working on a story, entertaining guests or who knows what else. Start by saying something like, "Hi Ms. Smith, my names Bill Jones and I have a story suggestion you might find interesting. Is this a good time for you?   4. Pitch to the voice mail. Its fine to pitch your story to the reporters voice mail. Keep it very short and end the message with your phone number. If you dont hear back, try again until you get the actual reporter or editor on the phone.   5. Dont read from a script! The bane of many journalists existences is 22-year-olds sitting in cubicles in big PR firms reading pitches off a sheet of paper. If a telemarketer doing the same thing has ever called you, you know how annoying it can be. Practice your pitch so that it seems natural and spontaneous.   6. Give them a story, not an advertisement. Newspapers do not exist to give you publicity. They exist to provide readers with interesting stories. Make your pitch newsy, exciting and relevant.   7. Follow up immediately. If shes interested, the editor will ask for more information. Be sure you have a press kit (including news release and photo) ready to send. Send it out via priority mail, and write "Requested Information" below the address.   8. Call again. Now its appropriate to call to see if the editor received your stuff...after all, unlike a mass-mailed release, she asked for it! Ask if shes had a chance to look through it, and what she thinks. If she likes what she sees, youre about to get some very valuable publicity!