As Meg mentioned last week, in the wake of natural disasters it’s very difficult to get the media to listen. The northeast is going through some sort of apocalypse between Hurricane Sandy, a minor earthquake, the election and now a Nor’easter that is supposed to hit today. Writers across the nation, from San Francisco to Chicago, are covering what is going on. Pitches about your post-event photos seem petty and even somewhat offensive next to news about homes being destroyed and volunteer events that can actually make a difference.

Now is a time when every PR professional need to pay very close attention to detail and research every single person they’re pitching. What have they recently been covering? Are they located in the northeast? If there aren’t new articles, could they be tied down or even displaced from working? The last thing you want is a negative article about your client being insensitive to news that’s going on in area. Take this as a helpful warning to alert yourself, your colleagues and client – sometimes we can be so wrapped in our bubbles elsewhere to recognize what’s going on in other parts of the country. I’m guilty of this myself!

What are some precautions you take while pitching?