Many businesses believe that the only type of print media attention comes in the form of a news reporter doing a fabulous story on their business or product. There are lots of tiny little ways to get attention that no one ever thinks about. They are called briefs and they are in almost every section of a newspaper or magazine. There are arts briefs, news briefs, business briefs, get the picture? These are known in the industry as space fillers because they are small newsy bites that can be shortened or eliminated depending on space requirements for news and advertising.
Reporters are always looking for fodder for their briefs sections. The easiest way to break into a newspaper is via their business briefs section. What qualifies here? If you hire a new employee write up a quick bio and send, along with a headshot to the newspaper’s business editor. It’s a good idea to check out the business section first and see what this area is called, because it’s not always called “Briefs.” Sometimes they have a clever name for it like “Movers and Shakers” or something. You can do this when someone gets promoted or you open a second store or office.
This is not the place to advertise sales, however. On the other hand say you are partnering with a nonprofit and for every XYZ product you sell through the next 60 days you will donate 50 percent to the nonprofit with the goal of raising $XXXX for their new gym/shelter/scholarship program. Then that would be something to publish.
When in doubt just send it in. The worst that can happen is you won’t get published. Then again you may just save some time crunched editor’s day and get a nice little mention of your name at the same time.