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Featured Article
Another springtime media idea you might try is to remind people that some cleaners and disinfectants that they might use for their spring cleaning could be dangerous to pets.
Thanks to Dr. Justine Lee and the Pet Poison Helpline, VNN has posted some useful Message Points that you can use for local media, to create an article or to work into your blog rotation.
Today, the FDA released a consumer alert that cautions pet owners against giving bones to their dogs. Even though we all know this is not a good idea, many of our clients still maintain that chewing bones is the right thing for their dogs. Here's your chance to educate...use those top ten reasons the FDA cited and post something on your Facebook Fan page, your website or your blog!! |
Featured Article
HumaneWatch or Humane Society of the United States?
As a news organization that represents and promotes the veterinary profession, we here at VNN have been intently watching the on-going battle between groups with an "animal rights" agenda and those who are concerned about animal welfare and the agricultural community.
If you have not seen this organization, we would encourage you to visit HumaneWatch.org and learn how they are exposing some of the more dubious practices of the Humane Society of the United States.
We are all concerned about how animals are treated, whether they are our pets or farm animals. But, the recent agenda of the HSUS has left some in the veterinary profession wondering about their overall goals.
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Featured Article
Even if you aren't a Certified Veterinary Journalist yet, check out the ASVJ fan page on Facebook. We will post interesting media articles and reports as well as tips to help you promote your expertise.
In case you have missed the announcements, you can now apply to become a Certified Veterinary Journalists through the American Society of Veterinary Journalists.
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Dear VNN Reporters:
Happy 40th Anniversary of Earth Day!
Some of you may notice that I am sending a few more emails out to our reporters each week. I am not trying to overwhelm you with information, but VNN has now become part of the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) network and I receive three updates/requests for information from these folks EVERY single day. In many cases, there are no pending pet related stories, but every so often I will find an interesting request for expert pet information.
I am forwarding these requests routinely, along with the journalist/author's contact information to some of our members so that you can have more opportunities for media exposure. I also promise to rotate through our membership so that you aren't inundated with emails from us.
Some of these requests are simple bloggers looking for information and some are network connections. I even had a recent request for veternary input on an upcoming book about pet loss.
Responding to these requests can help you develop experience in dealing with media as well as the opportunity to get your expertise showcased. Please let me know if you respond to any of these requests so that I can follow the media and potentially capture it for your media kit.
It's just one more way VNN is working to promote you and the veterinary profession! |
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Facebook Tip of the Week!
Last time, I shared a tip with you about making friend "lists" to help you control what you see in your News Feed and make finding the important stuff that much easier.
This week, you all will LOVE what I have for you. Everyone has a friend (or twelve) who spends a lot of time playing with the "Mafia" application or talking about their "Farmville", "Zoo World" or maybe even "Petville". Now, you can hide those applications without hiding everything else from your friend.
The next time you see one of the updates from Farmville (or any application you prefer not to see routinely), hover your mouse over to the right of the status update. A "HIDE" box will appear. When you click HIDE, you will be given an option to hide updates from that person, updates from the application or to cancel. If you click Hide updates from the application (the app will actually be named), you can stop seeing the desperate pleas for feeding the orphaned animals at Zooville or the demands for bigger guns on the Mafia application.
The best news is that you can still see other updates (like added photos, videos, or just regular news) that your friend will post.
This step can really streamline your news feed and make it much easier to find the information and news that you want and need! |
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We Need to Hear from You!
( I mentioned this in the last few newsletters, but it bears repeating again.)
Every six months, VNN needs to produce a "ratings report" that lets our strategic partners know about our audience reach and how our members are using our resources. Last week, several members of the VNN Leadership Group started calling other VNN Reporters for information. Please make sure that you return that call or email with answers for the following:
1) Any media that you have done since the start of 2010. We need station ID (or print publication name), days you appeared, times and the topics you discussed. If you know that you will be appearing some time before the end of May, let us know that too!
2) We also want to know if you are involved in social media in anyway. Do you have a Twitter account or Facebook fan page?
3) Do you have any stories where the use of VNN resources enabled you to be better prepared when the local media called? DId VNN Resources help get you a local media "gig"?
4) And finally, what questions or concerns do you have for us? How can VNN help you educate and inform pet owners about animal health stories?
Please be aware that these calls (from me or a fellow VNN member) are happening now! We want to hear from you and we NEED to hear from you so that our media ratings report will be as complete as possible.
Finally, I wanted to make sure that everyone received their mailing from VNN earlier this month. We had about half a dozen returned to us for bad addresses (not bad out of 400 mailed). If you didn't receive one, please contact me via email. |
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Remember, Dr. Jim and I are available if you have any questions about traditional media, social media or how to get started. You can call Dr. Jim at 719-495-2100 or email him at dr.jim@myvnn.com. My contact information is below. You can also connect with Dr. Jim at LinkedIn...just send him an invite!
Our goal is to continue to provide you with the highest level of media resources and information to grow your practice through publicity and PR.
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Sincerely,
Thomas Dock, CVJ
Veterinary News Network
317-281-8658
Dr. Jim Humphries
President
Veterinary News Network
719-495-2100 Direct Line
888-254-9946 Fax
719-963-6852 Cell
Executive Director
American Society of Veterinary Journalists
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