If you have struggled to get your important news items aired on the Ohio News Network or any station, then worry no more.

At the Lake Communicators monthly luncheon April 11, Brian McIntyre, reporter for Ohio News Network (ONN), will share his advice for getting your story in the news.

Having experience behind the desk and in the field as a reporter, McIntyre knows first-hand how to appeal to a station and get your story covered. He will share his experiences in the field and how to get reporters interested in your story.

“I’m interested to hear what he has to say,” said Dick Fraser, Lake Communicators president. “I know everyone has an interesting story to share yet so few actually get on-air.”

As a Cleveland native, McIntyre has always had an interest in local news. He began his

professional career as a news desk assistant/weekend assignment editor for WEWS-TV and eventually became a segment producer for “The Morning Exchange.”

He then took a camera position as a reporter for WNWO-TV in Toledo and went on to become a reporter in Columbus before returning back to his roots at WEWS as a consumer-affairs reporter. McIntyre now reports for both ONN and WEWS, Cleveland affiliate stations since 2005.

McIntyre has also been recognized for his talent. In 1994, he was nominated for an Emmy as a member of “The Morning Exchange” staff of producers.

The meeting will be held at Comfort Inn & Conference Center, 7701 Reynolds Road in Mentor from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are required by Friday, April 6 by calling Diana Lewis at 440/255-8932 or sending an e-mail to wolfeshirley@yahoo.com. Guests are always welcome. Cost is $13 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Do you know what you would do in the event of a catastrophe in Lake County? Do you have a plan for family and friends? Most of us don’t.

The Department of Homeland Security has provided training for our safety forces and elected leadership.

We now need to develop a plan of action to help every citizen to be prepared and understand what to do in a crisis. From pandemics, to floods, to blackouts – we need to be prepared.

Be sure to review this year’s Lake Communicator’s Directory. This year’s cover design is the creative art designed by McKinney Advertising.

The art was used on our latest brochure and will be reproduced on future signs and flyers.

The directory was designed by Villa Beach Communications. The material for the directory was compiled by Shirley Wolfe of Jaye Wolfe Enterprises at no cost.

The 44-page, full-color directory includes board members, members (in alphabetical order),

Tom Ruffner, immediate past president and member of the Internal Communications Committee, has taken on additional responsibilities. He will chair the Apex Committee this year. The Apex Awards will probably move to November from its traditional slot in October.

Jerie Green, last year’s Apex chair, had originally

Committee Reports:
Programs & Meetings: J. Venen updated list. All confirmed except September and October. May rebook Scott Gregory since February meeting was snowed out. August speaker waved $150 fee.

Membership: S. Wolfe said some members haven’t paid yet. We have 64 members total. Kim McClosky, integrated marketing manager at Meister Media Worldwide, is now a member. She is interested in working on the Awards Committee. She was referred by D. Myers.

Internal Communications/Directory: T. Ruffner/L. Freeman – Directory is being finished up. It is running behind due to missing info.

Scholarship: Schools have letters. T. Ruffner will ask D. Fraser to meet with the committee.

NOCA: D. Lewis will forward e-mails of interest from organization to members. Good programs, but hard to get downtown or to Akron for them. Contact D. Lewis if interested and people can carpool.

County Emergency Program: T. Ruffner reported that J. Baginski and R. Somich. R. Somich’s program is going to take at least a year to accomplish. The May meeting will be held onsite at the Emergency Operations Center. We will have a box lunch at the EOC so people can

What avenues do your peers plan to use in their direct marketing efforts in 2007? According to a poll conducted by Target Marketing magazine, more direct marketers plan to increase spending for online methods.

E-mail leads the pack of most-used media with 52 percent of marketers expecting to increase their spending.

Next is direct mail (41 percent expect to spend more), search engine marketing otherwise known as paid search (40 percent), search engine optimization (37 percent) and direct response space advertising (24 percent).
Other interesting results from Target Marketing’s poll: Direct mail was reported to be their best

Apr. 11
Join Lake Communicators for networking, a delicious lunch, and Brian McIntyre, ONN Reporter

RSVP Deadline: Apr. 6