I am a dermatologist and I will often get calls from publicity agents
asking if I would like to serve as an "expert" for an article that is
being done by a major newspaper, magazine or television (news) show on some
skin care topic.  I get the distinct impression that "experts needed"
are posted to some type of website/bulletin board or a service emails
these requests to the (registered?) PR agents, who then call me. They,
of course, ask for a "finder?s fee".  I think it is silly to pay them
to (figuratively) forward and email or read me a posting from a
bulletin board.  How do I eliminate the "middle person" and gain
direct access to such requests for experts?  Are their
websites/bulletin boards/or email services that list such media
requests for expert opinions?

Perhaps if you have access to free lance or staff writer(s), editors or
television news producers, they can afford some insight into the
whole process.  The media is a big, hungry machine that needs to be fed
massive amounts every day to keep the pages/broadcast full, and the
info must come from somewhere.
Thanks,
Dr. Crutchfield

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 10 Oct 2005 05:56 PDT

Dr. Crutchfield,

There are, indeed, a number of established sources that the press
turns to when they are in need of an expert source.

In my experience, journalists generally being using a source for
background information on a topic, and will build up a relationship
that eventually leads to an on-air or in-print use of the epperts
name.  However, this differs from one reporter to the next, and from
one story to the next.

There are both online and print sources of expert information that
journalists turn to.  Two of the most well-regarded are:


http://www.experts.com/


and the publication, "Yearbook of Experts" (also available online)
that is sent out, free, to journalists around the country.

There are quite a number of other resources like this, as well.


If you want to be be listed in these resources, there are generally
fees involved.  However, the resources are good way of getting your
profile front and center on a given topic.

Have a look at the experts.com site -- particularly the "Be a Member"
information.  If this looks to be of interest, I can certainly list a
number of other key sources used by journalist for access to general
listings of experts, as well as a few specialized listings on medical
topics.

Let me know if that's the sort of thing you're looking for.


pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by crutchfield-ga on 10 Oct 2005 22:00 PDT

This is exactly what I am looking for.

I am interested in what the writers/editors/producers of print, radio
and broadcast search when they are looking for experts on all topics
especially medical.  A well constructed list of such sources with any
associated helpful info would serve as a very satisfactory answer to
this question.
Thanks!
Dr. C

Dr. Crutchfield, 

Thanks for getting back to me, and for confirming that these are the
types of resources you're looking for.

I've compiled a list of some of the most widely-used 'expert' sources.
 I would suggest you spend a bit of time exploring these links and
familiarizing yourself with the content of the various sites.  You may
well find that some appear to be a better fit than others, in terms of
options for participating in the database, or with your particular
areas of expertise.

I trust the information below fully answers your question.

However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need.  If there's anything more I can do for you, just post a Request
for Clarification, and I'm happy to assist you further.

pafalafa-ga


===============


Let's begin with the two sources I mentioned already:


The Yearbook of Experts is at:


http://www.expertclick.com


It has been around for almost 25 years, and even though it has a bit
of the feel of those silly "Who's-Who" books where anyone can buy a
listing, this is nevertheless a source that is widely-used by the
press.  One journalism site I frequent puts it this way:

"If you're a journalist, you need a copy (they're free). If you're an
expert, you need a listing (they're almost free)..."


Well....not quite 'almost free'.  Listings run anywhere from a few
hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on how visible you want
your listing to be.


You can download a free copy of the Yearbook here:


http://www.expertclick.com/images/NRWUpload/Yearbook-of-Experts-24th-PDF-August-22-2005.pdf
[warning -- large download]


and a copy of their brochure on obtaining a listing, here:


http://www.expertclick.com/member/default.cfm?Action=MainInfo&InfoKitID=3267


Note that the deadline for their next print version is November 1.


By the way, the Yearbook has a lot of medical listings, but there is
not currently any listing under Dermatology, so you would have the
field to yourself at this source next time Yushchenko's face breaks
out!


===============


The other source I mentioned is expert.com:


http://www.experts.com/


which is one of the top sites to pop up anytime anyone conducts an
internet search on the term [expert].


Again, this is a pay-for-a-listing site (though they reserve the right
to turn you down!), and the basic information on listings is here:


http://www.experts.com/members.asp


Several experts show up on a search for [dermatology], but none of
them appear to actually be dermatologists, so again, a listing here
may be worthwhile.



===============


Another site that gets frequent mention by journalists is ProfNet:


http://www1.profnet.com/login_prn.jsp


but quite frankly, I find their service confusing.  It seems to be
oriented more towards companies and institutions, rather than
individual practicioners, but you may want to have a look around just
the same.


===============


The Foundation for American Communications runs a well-respected experts site:


http://www.facsnet.org/sources/newssources/


that they describe this way:


---
The database describes the names, areas of expertise, short vitae, and
contact information for experts and authoritative sources in
economics, science, law, and public policy. These news sources are
drawn from the academic community, research institutes, and the
private sector. Quick Search matches also report the name of the
organization submitting the name to our database.

Sources submitted as FACS Scholars are known personally to FACS as
articulate experts dedicated to helping journalists understand issues
rather than promoting a particular agenda.
---


So...no purchase-a-listing option here.  Still, they do not have a
current listing under [dermatology], so you might want to contact them
and suggest adding your listing to their database.  The contact form
is here:



http://www.facsnet.org/about/faqs.php3
Contact Us Here


or you can contact them directly at:



The Foundation for American Communications
85 South Grand Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
phone: (626) 584-0010 fax: (626) 584-0627


===============


A few sites carry fairly long listings (probably more than you care to
deal with) of expert-sources information.  Two notable sites aimed
especially at journalists are:


http://powerreporting.com/category/People_finders/Experts
Power Reporting


and


http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/content/3862.cfm
The American Press Institute


===============


Lastly, a number of institutions offer find-an-expert services, such
as this one from the American Academy of Religion:


http://www.religionsource.org/Contents/JournalistHome.aspx


I'm surprised how few organizations do this, though -- it seems a
natural step for a professional organization.  If you are a member of
the AAD, or a similar professional group, you may want to encourage
them to estabish an experts listing, as a valuable service to both the
press and to AAD members.



Good luck in your outreach efforts.  Again, if there's anything more I
can do for you, just let me know.


pafalafa-ga



search strategies -- Used bookmarked sites to journalists' expert resources.

Thanks, just what i was looking for!!!!

Thank you as well...much appreciated!

paf