Why I Am Listed in Sources

Ann Douglas


Over the years, I have turned to Sources time and time again to track down experts to interview for whatever newspaper or magazine article I happened to be researching at the time. So when the time came for me to position myself as an expert — to let the media know about my bestselling pregnancy and parenting books — it was immediately obvious to me what I had to do: take out a listing in Sources.

Like many journalists, I turn to Sources on a regular basis. It’s a great way to find experts quickly without a lot of hassle. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to the trouble of tracking down an amazing expert via the Internet or through word of mouth, only to find that they are unwilling to speak to the media. Sources saves me time by providing me with leads on experts who are not only willing to be interviewed: in most cases, they’re downright eager!

When I was trying to decide whether or not I should invest my hard-earned money in a listing in Sources, I pulled out some of my old Sources directories. I discovered that the majority of high-profile experts that I had interviewed in the past are listed in the directory year in and year out — a clear indication that they feel that they’re getting a lot of bang for their buck.

Something else that factored into my decision to advertise in Sources was the fact that Sources publishes both print and online editions of its directory. I’ve hung around enough newsrooms to know that some journalists like thumbing through paper directories, while others prefer typing a few keywords into an online search engine. The only way to hit both groups of journalists is to offer the information in both print and online formats, as Sources does.

I also appreciate the fact that Sources is distributed to freelance writers as well as writers who are employed full-time by newspapers and magazines. The majority of magazine articles published in this country are written by freelancers rather than staffers, so it’s important that freelancers have access to Sources, too.

I’m glad I decided to take the plunge and purchase a listing in the Sources directory. Within a few weeks of taking out my initial listing, I had been called by one of the producers of Canada AM and booked on the show to talk about my book Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss. That interview was followed by a steady stream of requests from radio and newspaper reporters who were interested in doing interviews with me, too. Having a listing in Sources has certainly paid off for me: with any luck it will for you, too.


Ann Douglas is the author of 18 books, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, and the President of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada — Canada’s national association for freelance magazine and newspaper writers. She can be contacted via her Web site at www.having-a-baby.com.

For information about listing in Sources, visit www.sources.com/Profile.htm or fill out the listing form here.

This article originally appeared in The Sources HotLink, published by Sources and available online at www.hotlink.ca.


See also:
Nurturing your relationships with reporters
Effective Media Relations
There's no such thing as a slow news day
What Does a Reporter Want?
Flying High: Five sure ways to get your business soaring
Eight Best Books for Publicity Seekers
Media Relations (review)

 

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