Village Holding Free PR Seminar for Businesses

The village of Plainfield, in conjunction with Joliet Junior College and the Illinois Small Business Development Center, is holding a March 6 free seminar on "How To Get Free Publicity."

The two-hour event will start at 9 a.m. at Plainfield Village Hall, 24401 W. Lockport St., according to a media release issued by the village. To register, click here.

Because advertising costs money, which can cut into an entrepreneur’s budget, the seminar will focus on how to work with the media to get free publicity without hiring a public relations person.

There will be information on how to develop events and programs that might be published in newspapers, establish strong relationships with editors, pitch a story with confidence, use the phone and e-mail to maximum advantage, and the best way to write a press release.

The instructor is Joseph Giunta, a marketing specialist for Joliet Junior College. His background in public relations includes writing and media contact for John Challenger, vice president and spokesperson for the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other national publications.