Re: GWL quotes and rants

**"* E* <d*@eberlypr.com>**

Hey all,

I have been enjoying the email commentary all day. Given the last remark
below about PR folks, I felt compelled to share a couple of thoughts to
ponder.

First, not all PR firms are uneducated in the field of Horticulture. As a
matter of fact, my own firm, Eberly Public Relations, is 100% Home, Garden,
Horticulture, Agribusiness, and Design based.  This means all of our clients
are home and garden oriented.  Many are the country's top growers and plant
brands.  They are top plant development companies that make up America's
gardens and give the garden writers topics about which to write.  It also
means we are contributing writers with byline articles publishing in many,
many magazines and newspapers each month - all of which are articles that
contain accurate, detailed, and knowledgeable information that rank with the
best of garden writers.  So, let's not assume (please) that all PR folks
cannot be good and informed garden writers.  

Second, regarding donated trial plants for editors / writers, I have some
information to provide that I hope is helpful.  From someone who gives a lot
of plant material to writers, radio / TV producers, and other members of the
media each year, please take it from me that plant companies are thrilled to
provide the plants for the mere chance something good will be written about
them.  They do not expect it.  They are usually quite willing to share
plants to simply educate garden writers on the latest and greatest plants.

In addition, most are fine with the knowledge that - just because they
donate trial plants to writers - they may not receive beneficial press.
These helpful plant development companies and growers often want to share
their plants with garden writers because they know the writers will, in
turn, help educate readers about gardening...something we all hope more
people will adopt as a pastime.  

For garden writers accepting trial plants, the key is to have ongoing
assignments and be willing to truly consider writing about the plants.  This
alone is enough to accept trial plants, use and plant them, and to do so
guilt free.   

Of course, when a donated trial plant is successful for a garden writer, it
would be wonderful if that writer would be so kind as to share the
information with his or her readers - and include the brand name that
coincides with the plants...reasonable, we feel, given that over 87% of
readers prefer source / resource information in keeping with article content
- according to our studies and many conducted by GWA, AMA, and PRSA. 

By the way, my window boxes are currently filled with well-tended and
floriferous dahlias with tuberous roots from both the US and Central
America. 

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you today.  

Happy ranting...and writing, 
Don 

Don Eberly 
President / CEO
Eberly Public Relations
Public / Media Relations
for the Home, Garden, Horticulture, Agribusiness, and Design Industries

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Duane Campbell
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 4:27 PM
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
Subject: Re: [GWL] GWL quotes and rants

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <carlobal@netzero.net>

> Hmmm, someone is writing that tag and the magazine hype

True, but it could be some copywriter at a PR firm who has plastic tulips 
stuck in his apartment window box.

>...(and didn't you just make a point about pushing new items?)...

Yes, good items, known to be good from personal experience.

D 

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_______________________________________________
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GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters