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Book Review: Free Publicity

By Charles Gillis
June 28, 2005

As it's often been said, inspiration can come at the strangest times. After two decades of experience working in television media, reporter Jeff Crilley stumbled upon an epiphany over a plate of lasagna. It struck him during a lunch meeting with a friend who was having considerable difficulty getting media attention. Crilley's friend was employed as a public relations liaison for a local company and could not understand why the media ignored her public relations initiatives. Over lunch, he reviewed her techniques and press releases and in an exchange that Crilley refers to as a “Simon from American Idol moment,” and the Emmy award-winning reporter unleashed a torrent of constructive criticism.

“Your events are boring, your press releases are terrible, you are trying to pitch us stories we don't care about when our interests are focused elsewhere, and frankly, a tic-tac wouldn't kill you.”

Stunned silence followed this diatribe of tough love, and for a brief moment Crilley thought he might have crossed a line and lost a friend. Instead, his candor was much appreciated. His friend was thankful to hear the blunt truth and suggested to Crilley that he should write a book explaining to the world how the media really operates. At that moment Crilley received inspiration for his mission.

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