The Publicity Club of New York hosted a luncheon July 21 featuring segment and guest producers from some of the top-rated daytime TV talk shows:

• Patty Neger, coordinating producer, “Good Morning America”
• Kelly Burkhard, talent booker, “Live! with Regis & Kelly”
• Angela LaGreca, producer, “Today”
• Tommy Crudup, senior talent producer, “Rachael Ray Show”
• Rena Popp, senior producer, “The Wendy Williams Show”

Following are highlights of the very informative session, which was also streamed online. To sign up for the streaming pass, click here.

‘GOOD MORNING AMERICA’

Neger is coordinating producer for ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” where she produces live book and author segments, live medical/health segments, and animal/wildlife features. She produces regular segments with both Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, and veterinarian Marty Becker. She also co-created the shows ground-breaking women's health coverage, "The Healthy Woman." In addition, she works with a number of special-interest magazines, producing lifestyle pieces for the show.

Before pitching “GMA,” it’s important to know the show, said Neger. The broadcast is broken down into four sections:

• 7 to 7:30 a.m. is the news half hour.
• 7:30 to 8 a.m. is informational. Features have to be “buzzy” and visual (video, lots of pictures). For example, they recently interviewed a doctor regarding the heat wave hitting various parts of the country. Rather than interviewing the doctor in the studio, they interviewed him in a sauna. At the beginning of the interview, they weighed him and took his vitals, and then compared them to his weight and vitals after being in the sauna. This helped them explain to viewers what happens to a body in extreme heat. “We are always trying to find visual ways to tell the story,” said Neger. “We are television. We don’t want talking heads. We’re always looking for a ‘television moment’ – what people will be talking about after the show.”
• 8 to 9 a.m. is hip, fun, visual entertainment – e.g., a fashion show featuring twins, one wearing a “splurge” item and the other wearing a “knockoff.” The anchors then try to guess which one is wearing which.

By watching the show, you’ll get a better idea of what they do and don’t cover. “Not every person or product is appropriate for the show.” For example, don’t pitch “20/20” with a story about eyebrow waxing (an actual pitch a colleague of hers at “20/20” recently received).

Also, be aware of timing. Know what’s making news so you know when not to pitch. “If there’s a big news story, like a plane crash, don’t pitch a story at that time,” said Neger.

You can assume the show wants exclusivity, said Neger, adding that she would like to know if you’re pitching the same story to other shows. And if you are, make sure you proofread your email. “I got an email that said, ‘This would be perfect for Matt and Ann,’” she said.

If you have a deadline by when you need to hear back before you take the story elsewhere, include that in the pitch, as well.

A few additional tips when contacting Neger:

• She prefers pitches by email (patty.neger@abc.com). Keep them short, with the topic in the subject line and your client’s info in the opening paragraph. Don’t get too personal. And avoid calling a few minutes later to ask if she got the email.
• If you’re leaving a voicemail message, make sure to include your name and phone number at the beginning and end of the message.
• If sending snail mail, send to the show’s new location, 47 West 66th St. Although the show still has a studio downtown, Neger doesn’t visit it very often and prefers mail be sent to the new location

Neger added that “Good Morning America” is “really into social networking.” The show was 1.7 million followers on Twitter, and all of the anchors tweet, often during the show. If what you’re pitching has a social tie-in, make sure to mention it in your pitch.

“LIVE! WITH REGIS AND KELLY”

Burkhard explained that the program’s first section, in which Regis and Kelly talk about whatever’s on their mind, is not pitchable. “It’s totally organic,” she said. “They don’t even talk about it before the show.”

The show has three other sections: two top celebrity interviews and a demo. Demos can be about music, cooking, etc. – anything that’s “fun, different, really unique, and hasn’t been anywhere,” said Burkhard. “We want to be first if we can.”

When pitching, mention any pictures, videos, etc., that are available.

The show books three months in advance, so also keep that in mind when deciding when to pitch.

“TODAY”

The “Today” show has four hours of content to fill every day:

• 7 to 7:30 a.m. is the news half hour.
• From 7:30 to 8 a.m., it starts changing a bit.
• 8 to 9 a.m. is more feature-oriented, with mom stories, entertainment, books, etc.
• 9 to 10 a.m. includes some news elements, as well as health-oriented stories and features like “Money 911.”
• The 10 a.m. hour “is pretty much just a drinking thing,” joked LaGreca.

LaGreca echoed the other panelists when she stressed the important of being familiar with “Today” before pitching: “Know the show. Know who you’re pitching. Don’t do the generic thing.”

LaGreca also shared a list of her do’s and don’ts for pitching stories to “Today”:

Do:

• Do know the person to pitch.
• Do try to make your product part of a bigger story.
• Do be transparent. If you have a medical expert that has ties with your client, tell them upfront.

Don’t:

• Don’t pitch by phone. “I just don’t have the time.”
• Don’t be too personal in your pitches. “I don’t like, ‘Happy Friday!’ or ‘How are you today?’ or overuse of exclamation points. I want something that’s useful.”
• Don’t send attachments. “I once got an email with 24 jpegs attached. It’s just not necessary.” If you have a visual component, include a link to the video or to a website where she can view pictures.
• Don’t follow up incessantly after sending a pitch. “Don’t berate, don’t pound us. If it’s something interesting, we’ll get back to you.”
• Don’t feel bad if you don’t hear back.

LaGreca can be reached by email at angela.lagreca@nbcuni.com

“THE WENDY WILIAMS SHOW”

“You need to know the show,” said Popp. “Wendy Williams is very outspoken, and she says it like she means it.”

The show is very celebrity-based. Everything Williams does revolves around celebrities somehow, said Popp. While the show does do some human-interest stories, most of the program is celebrity-based. They don’t do a lot of medical segments.

If you’re pitching a product, think about any possible celebrity connection. For example, Lindsay Lohan was on the show, and the company that made her earrings did an audience giveaway. That’s the type of tie-in producers are looking for.

“The Wendy Williams Show” is a live show, so be aware of what’s going on. “Timing is everything,” said Popp. “If there’s a snowstorm in New York, or the airports are in chaos, you can bet we had some cancellations.” That might be an opportunity for you to pitch to them if you can get your client to the studio quickly.

The show does do cooking and fashion segments, but, again, think about any celebrity connections.

Another opportunity is themed months, which the show is doing more of. “Keep an eye out for what’s coming up on the show to look for opportunities,” said Popp.

For example, Williams will be going on a bus tour of 18 cities across the country, so if you have clients who are nationwide, check out the list of cities on the website.

Popp can be reached by email at rpopp@wendyshow.com.

“RACHAEL RAY SHOW”

“I agree pretty much with what everyone else said,” Crudup said. “Know the show. It is not a cooking show -- it is celebrity-driven. Know what Rachael Ray would respond to.”

The show loves to do field pieces, but they still need to have a unique angle for them to send a crew out.

In terms of lead time, Crudup says a month is good. However, they can turn a segment around in a day “if it’s a big-enough story.”

Having been a publicist at MGM for five years, Crudup knows what PR pros go through. He is open to developing relationships with publicists and tries to return all emails. When emailing, include any links in email.

Crudup can be reached by email at tcrudup@kingworld.com or by phone at (917) 332-3185.

With all the changes in the media industry – publications shutting down, laying off long-time staff writers, etc. -- more and more writers are opting for the freelance route. Whether you’re a new or established freelancer, there are things you can do to ensure success.

That was the topic of our recent #ConnectChat with freelance writer Robert McGarvey, whose newly issued e-book, “25 Secrets for Successful Freelance Writers,” explains how writers can make $75,000 a year by freelancing.

Following is a transcript of the chat, held July 19 on Twitter. (To view transcripts from past #ConnectChats, click here.)

ProfNet: I’m pleased to welcome Robert McGarvey (@rjmcgarvey) as our guest for today’s #ConnectChat. Robert is a prolific freelance writer who has penned more than 1,500 articles for many of the nation’s leading publications. He has also written 10 books, including 2001’s "How to Dotcom," and is an expert on the Internet and social media. Robert covers cooperatives and credit unions, high tech, real estate, meetings and the energy sector. He is a correspondent for Credit Union Times, primarily covering corporate credit unions. He also blogs frequently for InternetEvolution.com on new media and Internet issues, and for CIOUpdate.com on tablets and smartphones. He has written a column for Porthole Cruise for 12 years, and wrote Mile High Tech Blog for Continental Airlines via Wired in 2010. Robert also recently issued an e-book, “25 Secrets for Successful Freelance Writers,” and that’s the topic of our #ConnectChat today. I’ll start off with a few questions. Feel free to jump in with your own questions for @rjmcgarvey at any time. Welcome, Robert! Thank you for agreeing to be our guest today!

McGarvey: Hi. Thank you for inviting me. It will be fun.

@GnosisArts: Hello, ProfNet folks. I have a little time today, so joining into #ConnectChat.

ProfNet: Let’s jump right in. What led you to write the book?

McGarvey: I wanted to do a short e-book, and noodling on the changing freelance landscape seemed an ideal topic. Thus the book.

ProfNet: Did you set out to be a freelancer, or was it by necessity?

McGarvey: I’ve turned down a lot of staff jobs over the years. Wanted to freelance. Really.

ProfNet: What about freelancing appealed to you?

McGarvey: I get to follow my interests, pretty much wherever they take me, with no safety net.

@suddenlyfrugal: How has changing technology made it easier or harder for you to be a freelance writer?

McGarvey: Good question. Tech lets me be much more productive. I typed eight books. Yikes.

ProfNet: Ah, the good ol’ days. ;-)

McGarvey: Technology also lets me research at home, easily, cheaply, quickly. No library trips. No microfilm.

ProfNet: What is this "microfilm" thing you speak of? (Kidding. Kidding.)

@suddenlyfrugal: I know. Remember those trips to the library?

McGarvey: I used to spend one whole day a week at the Santa Monica Library.

ProfNet: What is the biggest hurdle freelancers face when they first start out?

McGarvey: Breaking into ever more slender pubs. The key is: Go with your passion. You have to WANT to do this today. Getting the first, good clips is the biggest hurdle. I talk about some strategies for getting there in the book. Mainly what I preach is, follow your passion. That has become critical today. It will also make getting started much easier.

ProfNet: So pretty much: Write what you would want to read about?

McGarvey: Sure, that’s one way to think about it. Write what interests you.

ProfNet: Say someone wants to be a freelancer. How do they get their foot in the door at a publication they want to write for?

McGarvey: If you *know* a pub, you will know what you can sell it.

@daniellewriter: Any tips for setting rates for freelance work? I don’t want to outbid myself, but don’t want to leave money on the table.

McGarvey: Rates today suck, to be frank. But I still think you ought to go in high and see what happens. I used to think $100k per year was easy -- now I am preaching $75k. Reality. It stinks, but this is where we are. Don’t even think about writing for pennies. Tell the SEO and content mills to shove it. Ditto for #HuffPo. Hit the road, Arianna. Can you imagine paying editors market rate and writers bupkus? You can do better.

@SusannaSpeier: I noticed you’re having a rates conversation and thought this might help: t.co/DdATGWA  I’ve actually been told by several hiring managers what I’ve reported is the low end. The current Writers Market Guide is also helpful.

ProfNet: Robert, your book talks about making $75k a year as a freelancer. Can you give us a little tease as to what’s in it?

McGarvey: Here’s one secret: Fire your least profitable client. Do it as soon as you can.

ProfNet: What do you mean by profitable? Straight up $$, or in terms of how much time you have to put in, too?

@suddenlyfrugal: You mean the PITA (pain in the a$$) clients that take up too much time and don’t pay enough to make up for that time.

McGarvey: It’s all about time. That’s all I have to sell. Sometimes the "high" payer is the business killer. For me, PITA mainly is folks I just plain don’t like, an indulgence I can afford as a freelancer. Another secret: Know what you will and won’t do. I don’t write for women’s magazines. I tried. I was no good at it.

@suddenlyfrugal: As a newbie freelancer, I found conferences that let you meet editors are helpful for making connections.

McGarvey: I don’t know if conferences *still* work. So many newbies, so few pages. They’re maybe OK for writers with special skills, backgrounds.

ProfNet: @suddenlyfrugal: Can you share some examples?

@suddenlyfrugal: Magazine Writers Conference in Chicago (on hiatus now), Travel Classics conference, etc. You want one-on-one opportunities with editors.

@bscarter: How do you decide what content to publish yourself (blog, etc.) vs. what to pitch to a pub?

McGarvey: I don’t blog for myself, not really. Too lazy, I suppose. I did self-publish the book, though, so I am not against writing on spec.

ProfNet: What is a typical payment for a freelancer? Is it $xx per word, $xx per story? Or does it depend on the publication?

McGarvey: Today, payment seems always to be by the story. It’s probably easier for publication budgeting.

ProfNet: Do freelancers typically need to secure experts in order to get an assignment, or does that come later?

McGarvey: Personally I don’t need experts to get an assignment, but I hear of pubs that want the interview list beforehand. ProfNet, BTW, has been useful to me since Dan Forbush ran it out of SUNY Stony Brook. I remember faxing queries to Forbush -- probably around 1992.

ProfNet: I started only a few years after that, but I still remember getting faxed queries.

@GnosisArts: Wow. You two are old skool!

ProfNet: I’m not sure if it’s old-school or just old. ;-)

ProfNet: Robert, you’ve been doing this a long time. Do you even need to pitch anymore?

McGarvey: I pitch very little. The truth is, skinny magazines don’t really need that many pitches. I got two assignments today just opening email.

ProfNet: As a columnist for several publications, I imagine you have free rein over what you write, yes?

McGarvey: Not exactly free rein. Usually I submit a list of topics -- headlines -- for approval. Columns have to fit into the lineup. For newbies, it is probably harder to get started than it has been in 25 years. The secret is, follow your passion.

ProfNet: Freelancers often work on more than one story at a time. How do you manage multiple assignments?

McGarvey: Time/project management are key skills for self-employed freelance success. I talk about this in the book.

@bscarter: Do you ever do much ghostwriting? Is that a viable area? How would one promote such a service without "outing" clients?

McGarvey: I have done ghostwriting. It is profitable, but it has always come to me. Sorry. I have no idea how to find it.

ProfNet: @bscarter This might help: How to Break Into Ghostwriting: bit.ly/mUn8s9

@bscarter: Thanks! This has been very useful.

ProfNet: Speaking of your book, what else can you tell us about it?

McGarvey: Another secret: You will succeed better/faster if you have editors for friends. It has really been a key for me.

@editorev: What are the best/worst parts of freelancing?

McGarvey: What’s best is that for 30+ years, I’ve been paid to write about my ever-changing interests. How cool. What’s worst is that -- honestly -- pay sucks these days. That’s just reality. $100k used to be easy; now I’m saying $75k. I mean, I’ve written for Hustler, Women’s Day and Boys Life -- maybe in the same month. If that’s not cool...

ProfNet: Hopefully not the same article... ;-)

McGarvey: Hah. No, I was never that good at spinning multiple sales out of one idea.

@editorev: So is it possible then to really make a career out of freelancing if the pay sucks?

McGarvey: Oh, absolutely possible for this to be a career. You just need to be creative about sourcing income. You can’t be hung up on pedigree. Today I do corporate work – didn’t used to. I write for a trade pub – didn’t used to. Be flexible and the $$ follows.

@GnosisArts: $75K isn’t a bad salary. That’s a good living in most places in the U.S.

McGarvey: I agree. It is pretty good $$ in most of the U.S.

ProfNet: You’re pretty active on Twitter. Do you think it’s now a requirement for journalists, especially freelancers, to be here?

McGarvey: Twitter is a must, unless you are a contract writer for The New Yorker. Twitter keeps you connected to what matters.

ProfNet: How do you use it? Do you look for story ideas here, or is it mainly a promotional tool for your stories?

McGarvey: I mainly use Twitter for ideas, and to connect/talk with folks. It is not proving to be good for source acquisition. Twitter is also good for promoting published stories, yes indeed, So are Facebook, LinkedIn.

ProfNet: You mentioned before that freelancers need to be flexible regarding outlets. Is that a challenge for some writers?

McGarvey: Yes. I think some are locked into what freelancing *should* be. It’s not just newsstand magazines anymore. It’s also not just big newspapers, as much as I like them.

ProfNet: What are some options beyond papers, magazines? You mention corporate writing. What else should writers consider?

McGarvey: User-generated content -- like this -- is an increasing presence that sucks up reading time. Paid writing has to be more engaging. Other options: ghostwriting, corporate writing, "sponsored" journalism, there are lots of ways to make a living at this.

@bscarter: Are there any online communities or resources you’d recommend (MediaBistro, Poynter, etc.)?

McGarvey: I like MediaBistro’s Freelancers Marketplace. I have made much $$ via it. I subscribe to Freelance Success. I belong to no groups.

@blogbrevity: How does "sponsored" journalism work?

McGarvey: "Sponsored journalism" is another phrase for advertorials (a word now in disfavor). Advertorials used to be big business for me – Harvard Business Review, NY Times, Fortune. That’s been *slow* for three years. Sigh.

@blogbrevity: Thank you for the explanation!

ProfNet: I remember we used to see a lot more queries for advertorials than we do now. Why the downturn?

McGarvey: The same reason for fewer ad pages. Skepticism about credibility of the format. They’re not coming back soon, either.

ProfNet: We’re almost out of time. What’s the No. 1 piece of advice you’d give to a new freelancer? And an experienced one?

McGarvey: Advice for both: Write what you want to write. Always. Forever. And don’t pick unnecessary fights, but don’t back off. You do this work because you want to. You won’t get rich, but you can make a living. You should have fun. If you’re not, why not?

ProfNet: That’s good advice for everyone, not just freelancers.

@blogbrevity: Thank you! Enjoyed the chat. Will check out the book!

ProfNet: This has been really interesting! Anything else you want to add before we sign off? #ConnectChat

McGarvey: Buy the book, review it on Amazon, you feel better about life. (I hope.) It’s less than a latte, and fewer calories too. j.mp/ncvnaE

ProfNet: Thank you so much for joining us. It’s been an insightful look into freelancing. And thank you to everyone who participated in the chat. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. #ConnectChat out.

This week’s expert spotlight is on Barbara Kirwin, Ph.D., one of the New York area's premier forensic psychologists.

Kirwin is often asked to give expert opinion on murder cases, and has testified in more than 100 homicide cases in New York City and on Long Island over the past 30 years. Among the high-profile defendants she has interviewed are: Joel Rifkin, convicted of murdering nine women; Dennis Sweeney, who shot and killed New York Congressman Allard Lowenstein; Peter Braunstein, who posed as a firefighter and held a woman hostage in her apartment; and Stephanie Wernick, a college student charged with the asphyxiation of her infant son.

Kirwin authored "The Mad, The Bad and The Innocent: The Criminal Mind on Trial" (Little, Brown and Company, 1997), which explores the misuse of the insanity defense and the criminalization of mental illness. She is currently at work on "Beyond Medea: The Untold Truth of Mothers Who Kill Their Children -- Who They Are, Why They Murder and How We Can Save Them," about the tragedy of mothers who commit infanticide.

She has made more than 150 TV appearances, including on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, CNBC and MSNBC news programs, and been featured on "Dateline," "Nightline," "20/20" and "48 Hours." She has also worked as an associate producer on documentaries for BBC, A&E, Canadian National TV, Court TV and The Learning Channel.

Kirwin is also an experienced public speaker and a frequent presenter at forensic and law enforcement organizations, corporate conferences, community groups and universities.

You can find out more on her website or her ProfNet Connect profile.

With changes in the media industry, more and more writers are choosing to go the freelance route. Whether you’re a new or established freelancer, there are things you can do to ensure success.

That will be the topic of our next #ConnectChat, Tuesday, July 19, featuring freelance writer Robert McGarvey, whose newly issued e-book, “25 Secrets for Successful Freelance Writers,” is available in the Kindle Store: amzn.to/k5AlFO

A busy freelance writer for 30 years, McGarvey has written over 1,500 articles for many of the nation's leading publications, from the New York Times to the Harvard Business Review. He has also written 10 books, including 2001’s “How to Dotcom,” and is an expert on the Internet and social media.

McGarvey covers cooperatives and credit unions, high tech, real estate, meetings and the energy sector. He is a correspondent for Credit Union Times, primarily covering corporate credit unions; blogs frequently for InternetEvolution.com on new media and Internet issues; blogs for CIOUpdate.com on tablets and smartphones; and has written a column for Porthole Cruise Magazine for 12 years. He has also contributed to corporate histories of Oppenheimer Funds and Continental Airlines (75th anniversary), and wrote the "Mile High Tech Blog" for Continental Airlines via Wired Magazine in 2010. He is currently working with Benchmark Hospitality on a 30th anniversary book, and is on the advisory board of Learning Streams.

Please join us for our chat, which will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT. To participate, just follow the #ConnectChat hashtag to view all updates from @rjmcgarvey, @ProfNet and the rest of the chat participants. We'll start off the chat with a few questions for Robert to get the conversation going, but feel free to ask away!

If you do not have a Twitter account or won’t be able to make it to the chat, you can find a recap on ProfNet Connect the following day. To view past #ConnectChat recaps, click here.

If you're a ProfNet subscriber, you get hundreds of queries each week, delivered right to your email inbox. Did you know you can change the types of queries you get and how often you get them?

Here's how:

Log on to our password-protected site at www.profnet.com and click on the My Feeds tab.

To change the frequency at which you get queries, click on E-mail Options. You can choose to get queries every half hour, hour, two hours, six hours, 12 hours or even once a day. You can also turn off your email delivery -- for when you go on vacation, for example -- and turn it back on at any time.

Via the Interest Categories tab, you can update the types of categories you receive. With 13 categories and hundreds of subcategories, you get only the queries that fit your expertise and interests.

Questions? Please drop us a line at profnet@profnet.com

Happy querying!

We regularly update our ProfNet Connect calendar to include any PR/media-related events coming up each month. Following is a summary of the events taking place over the next two weeks:

PRSA Westchester/Fairfield’s "Networking on the Sound" will take place July 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Riverside Yacht Club, Riverside, Conn. Members from PRSA, IABC, CT Press Club, NIRI, IABC, FCPRA and AMA will come together for an evening of networking, light hors d’oeuvres and camaraderie. More details here.

Springfield Social Media Club presents "Social Media Promotions," July 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Carnegie Branch Library, Springfield, Mo. Attendees will discuss how to access social platforms for promotions and campaigns. More details here.

PRSA-Georgia is hosting "How the Georgia Aquarium Keeps News Fresh: Global PR Campaigns Generate Local Success," July 14 at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Scott Higley, vice president of marketing and communications for Georgia Aquarium, will discuss how the aquarium’s PR team strategized and coordinated press for the recent launch of AT&T Dolphin Tales, the aquarium's largest expansion to date. In addition, Scott will give a behind-the-scenes look at communications planning for the world's largest aquarium. More details here.

The Central Florida Blogger Conference is being held July 16 at Park Maitland School, Maitland, Fla. The conference, for both beginners and seasoned bloggers, will explore strategies to build your brand, influence your community and make new friends. Details here.

Gotham Ghostwriters and ASJA Educational Foundation are co-hosting "The Do's And Don'ts of Writing Pricing," July 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at NYU’s Carter Journalism Institute, New York. In this free workshop for writers for hire, panelists will share the practical (and often painful) lessons they have learned from years of writing and pricing for others, including rules of thumb and traps to avoid. Among the topics to be covered: benchmarking fees for books, speeches and other projects; figuring out the right negotiating strategy; and the relative benefits of charging by the hour, word and project. Details here.

To view all upcoming events on our calendar, go to our home page and scroll down to the Calendar tab on the right. And if you’ve got a PR/media-related event (such as an IABC meeting, PRSA luncheon, etc.), please send the details to us by email, and we’ll do our best to get it listed.

For its next luncheon, the Publicity Club of New York will explore what it takes to gain traction with five top-tier national morning and daytime TV talk shows.

The luncheon will take place Thursday, July 21, from noon to 2 p.m., at Three West Club, 3 West 51st Street. Attendees will hear from the following segment and guest producers:

• Patty Neger, coordinating producer, “Good Morning America”
• Kelly Burkhard, talent booker, “Live! With Regis & Kelly”
• Angela LaGreca, producer, “Today”
• Tommy Crudup, senior talent producer, “The Rachael Ray Show”
• Rena Popp, senior producer, “The Wendy Williams Show”

The cost to attend the luncheon is $60 for members and $75 for nonmembers. The event will also be live-streamed for a reduced fee.

To register, visit www.publicityclub.org or call (212) 978-PCNY.

Each week, we profile an interesting, offbeat or quirky expert profile on ProfNet Connect. This week’s spotlight is on Dr. Philip K. Anthony, CEO of DecisionQuest, a leading trial consulting firm, based in Washington, D.C.

Anthony is available to discuss a wide range of trial issues, from voir dire to how the media affects the courtroom. DecisionQuest, which consulted for the OJ Simpson prosecution, helps corporations understand jury attitudes and perceptions based on empirical evidence from national and regional studies. Issues he can address include: how the media's coverage of a case will affect a trial's outcome; juror attitudes and bias; courtroom tactics.

He is a frequent lecturer on the topic of social science strategy and techniques in litigation, and has been featured on a wide variety of television programs and quoted in numerous magazines and newspapers. He has also been director and corporate secretary of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Anthony recently posted his take on how the jury in the Casey Anthony trial may have come to their decision: “Casey Anthony Trial: Indirect Evidence is No Longer Enough.”

Last month, my colleague Evelyn Tipacti shared a list of her favorite media and journalism blogs. This month, we’re looking at PR blogs, and I asked our editorial group to list some of our favorite ones. You’ve likely heard of some of them, while others might be new to you. Either way, we think you’ll enjoy them:

Ragan’s PR Daily: Published by Ragan Communications, Ragan’s PR Daily delivers daily news, advice, and opinions on the public relations, marketing, social media and media worlds. From job openings to grammar tips, news articles to opinion pieces, PR Daily covers it all. It’s a must-read for anyone in the communications field. RSS

PR Newser: Published by Media Bistro, PR Newser never fails to inform and entertain. Recent pieces include a roundup on top tech tools for communications pros, tips on pitching VegNews, and a profile of a vampire publicist. How’s that for wide-ranging?

PR Breakfast Club: Also known as #prbc on Twitter, PR Breakfast Club features stories from a veritable who’s who of the PR industry. It’s also the site of one of the first profiles of yours truly after I started tweeting, so it holds a special place in this girl’s heart. RSS

Inklings Blog: Hosted by InkHouse PR, Inklings is one of my favorite PR blogs. Led by InkHouse co-founder Beth Monaghan, Inklings recently featured articles on Twitter turnoffs, AP Stylebook updates and broken embargoes. RSS

Publicity and PR Leads Blog: If you’re in PR, you’ve likely heard of Dan Janal, founder of PR Leads, a service that helps authors, experts and speakers get publicity. Dan’s a smart guy – his book, “Dan Janal's Guide to Marketing on the Internet” was my textbook in grad school -- and his insight into PR issues is often spot-on. RSS

ComPRehension: The tagline for this PRSA blog is, “Join the public relations conversation.” Recent posts include columns on social media in PR, how the PRSA Code of Ethics applies to tweets, and how to use the creative process to become a better writer. RSS

PR News Blog: Published by Access Intelligence, the publisher behind the industry pub PR News, this blog features contributions from Diane Schwartz, Scott Van Camp and Steve Goldstein, who have years and years of experience in journalism and PR/marketing. That experience is evident in the thoughtful commentary they provide. It’s a great read. RSS

Beyond PR: Published by PR Newswire, Beyond PR covers a wide variety of communications topics, including public relations, investor relations, social media, SEO, content marketing and corporate social responsibility. Even if ProfNet weren’t a PR Newswire product, we’d still love it. RSS

ProfNet Connect: Ok, ProfNet Connect is not technically a blog, but we do have a Blogs section that features really good posts from a vast number of contributors from the PR and media communities. You’ll find posts on how to write a press release people will read; how to integrate social media and public relations; profiles of industry blogs; how to market to the Hispanic consumer; and many, many more. Check it out here.

So, what do you think of this list? And what are some of your favorite PR blogs? Please share in the comments below.

What do menopause, body parts and drunk relatives have in common? They all made my list of favorite queries this week:

Sucking up: Good for your Health? Yes. When you suck up, you get to keep your job, which comes with health insurance. See?

Do Car Insurance Commercials Actually Work? Totally. I taught my gecko how to speak in a British accent, thanks to those ads.

What’s in Your Wallet? Nothing. Literally.

What Are Celebrities Carrying in Their Wallets? See above. Now think of the complete opposite.

Creative Thinking for Marketing Executives. Uh, isn’t that the main part of the job?

Insurance for Body Parts. Who knew J.Lo was years ahead of her time?

Elderly Relative at Summer Barbecue. It’s a sidebar to a story on the drunken uncle at your wedding.

Most Dangerous Day of the Week for Driving. That would be whenever your elderly relative is on his way to the summer barbecue.

Menopause Hot Flashes. Are there any other kind?

Top 10 Media Movies. Ok, so this isn’t technically a query, but it is an entertaining post by my colleague Evelyn Tipacti on her 10 favorite movies involving the news industry. Take a look and comment on what your favorite media movies are.

*Publication names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

What were some of your favorite queries this week? Did they make this list?