I’m fascinated by the queries I read on Peter Shankman’s Help a Reporter Out list. I subscribe because as an author, I’m always looking for ways to promote my books, but I admit, I’m also curious how other writers look for experts and sources.

So here are two to compare and contrast. I’ve changed details, but the structure of the queries remains:

Writer #1: “I’m doing a story on the dramatic number of homeless living in public parks in New York.” (Yes, that’s it.)

Versus this:

Writer #2: “I’m looking for social service employees/execs who can talk to me about how they’re handling the increasing number of homeless citizens living in NYC’s public areas. Especially interested in how budget cuts and staff reductions put stress on services. Please use HARO: Homeless in NYC in the subject heading. Thanks!”

I already feel sorry for the editor who gets to work with writer #1. [db]

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