Media Q&A: Jennifer Kite-Powell, Tech Contributor, Forbes
May 30, 2018
Welcome to our inaugural media Q&A! We’re kicking things off with Forbes contributor Jennifer Kite-Powell, who covers innovation and the intersection of science and technology with art, health, environment, culture and agriculture. We interviewed Jennifer about her background, how she came to write for Forbes, and the best ways to work with her if you’re a PR person.
Check out our post and if you have any comments or feedback, please leave them on the MGP Facebook page.
Q: Why did you decide to report on the intersection of science and tech with art, industry, environment and agriculture?
JKP: My career has always centered around storytelling. I have a BA in Journalism and even way back in the 1980s, they they said to tell the story, you have to have the facts. Science and technology are fact-based disciplines and I loved the idea of being able to connect innovation in science and tech with the everyday world around us.
When I was approached by Forbes to write for them as a tech contributor, the producer who recruited me had read my work from an early tech blog I founded in 2000 called TattleTech. He liked the combination of technology, insight, and storytelling as part of their contributor network which was growing. I admired their vision for creating a network of journalists who could bring readers unique technology and science stories overlooked by other online media.
Q: What’s your favorite part of working for Forbes? Any favorite memories or stories?
JKP: I am a Forbes contributor, and that alone is a privilege because of the integrity of the magazine and its commitment to editorial excellence. In my opinion, they have built a digital news platform that hasn’t succumbed to many of the problems that have plagued other online magazines, and I’m proud to contribute to a magazine that demands impeccable journalistic standards. That alone inspires me to source and write great content for them and my readers.
Q: You’ve done quite a number of stories about the intersection of science and entertainment, like your coverage of National Geographic’s MARS. What was space camp like?
JKP: It was a reminder that space exploration is something we all need to be invested in. And for the record, we need to go to Mars.
Q: Tell us about a time a PR pro has knocked your socks off because they were so good. What did they do that set them apart from the pack?
JKP: PR pros rarely knock my socks off. Out of the roughly 200 pitches, I get a day; I would say there are one or two that open the door to something good. But sometimes it can be the most junior PR person that can surprise you. I once was pitched by an AAE at a big PR firm, and from his first email, he proved his value. From his instant turn around and relentless digging for the information I asked for, he is now one of my number one sources of content. I will always read an email from him. He offers me sources that aren’t even related to his client and more than that; he won’t send me dozens of links to other articles or press kits that are full of images or videos that aren’t a fit for me. He pays attention to what I write, and he caters to that.
Equally, tell us what your worst pet peeves are when people pitch you – any examples you want to share?
JKP:
- Not reading my out of office and still pitching me or “checking” back in while the out of office is still up
- Spamming me with repeat check-ins. One is sufficient.
- Links to other articles previously published on the same subject that’s been pitched to me
- Stats / data with no sources and lack of context of those stats
- Not providing or skirting the question of funding and/or funding amounts
- Images with no captions or photo credit
- Offering an interview with the CEO right out of the gate before they have sufficiently outlined the story
- Marketing language overload
- Previously published quotes from execs
- PItching me on Twitter
- Calling me by the wrong name
What’s the best way for a PR newbie to build a relationship with you?
JKP: The best way for ANY PR person regardless of experience (senior PR people are often lazier than new PR people) is to read what I write. If you read what I write about, then you will know what to pitch me. It’s that simple.
Any tips you want to give to PR people who want to pitch you to make their pitches better?
JKP: Yea, read what I write, do your homework, don’t assume and show me there’s a story here for my readers, not for your client.
About Jennifer Kite-Powell
Jennifer Kite-Powell is a freelance writer, author and human tech contributor at Forbes and Modern American News. She covers innovation and the intersection of science and technology with art, health, environment, culture and agriculture. She’s a regular moderator of creative, AI and VR/AR panels at events and festivals worldwide including Mobile World Congress Americas, Biotech and Money London, Web Summit, etc. She is a frequent guest on 938Now’s Tech Scares. Her first book, “Love, Lust, Longing and Truth” was published in 2017 and is for sale on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and at Berl’s Poetry Shop in Brooklyn. Follow her on Twitter @jennalee (but please, NO pitches!)
Mindy M. Hull
CEO
Media Q&A: Jennifer Kite-Powell, Tech Contributor, Forbes
May 30, 2018
Welcome to our inaugural media Q&A! We’re kicking things off with Forbes contributor Jennifer Kite-Powell, who covers innovation and the intersection of science and technology with art, health, environment, culture and agriculture. We interviewed Jennifer about her background, how she came to write for Forbes, and the best ways to work with her if you’re a PR person.
Check out our post and if you have any comments or feedback, please leave them on the MGP Facebook page.
Q: Why did you decide to report on the intersection of science and tech with art, industry, environment and agriculture?
JKP: My career has always centered around storytelling. I have a BA in Journalism and even way back in the 1980s, they they said to tell the story, you have to have the facts. Science and technology are fact-based disciplines and I loved the idea of being able to connect innovation in science and tech with the everyday world around us.
When I was approached by Forbes to write for them as a tech contributor, the producer who recruited me had read my work from an early tech blog I founded in 2000 called TattleTech. He liked the combination of technology, insight, and storytelling as part of their contributor network which was growing. I admired their vision for creating a network of journalists who could bring readers unique technology and science stories overlooked by other online media.
Q: What’s your favorite part of working for Forbes? Any favorite memories or stories?
JKP: I am a Forbes contributor, and that alone is a privilege because of the integrity of the magazine and its commitment to editorial excellence. In my opinion, they have built a digital news platform that hasn’t succumbed to many of the problems that have plagued other online magazines, and I’m proud to contribute to a magazine that demands impeccable journalistic standards. That alone inspires me to source and write great content for them and my readers.
Q: You’ve done quite a number of stories about the intersection of science and entertainment, like your coverage of National Geographic’s MARS. What was space camp like?
JKP: It was a reminder that space exploration is something we all need to be invested in. And for the record, we need to go to Mars.
Q: Tell us about a time a PR pro has knocked your socks off because they were so good. What did they do that set them apart from the pack?
JKP: PR pros rarely knock my socks off. Out of the roughly 200 pitches, I get a day; I would say there are one or two that open the door to something good. But sometimes it can be the most junior PR person that can surprise you. I once was pitched by an AAE at a big PR firm, and from his first email, he proved his value. From his instant turn around and relentless digging for the information I asked for, he is now one of my number one sources of content. I will always read an email from him. He offers me sources that aren’t even related to his client and more than that; he won’t send me dozens of links to other articles or press kits that are full of images or videos that aren’t a fit for me. He pays attention to what I write, and he caters to that.
Equally, tell us what your worst pet peeves are when people pitch you – any examples you want to share?
JKP:
- Not reading my out of office and still pitching me or “checking” back in while the out of office is still up
- Spamming me with repeat check-ins. One is sufficient.
- Links to other articles previously published on the same subject that’s been pitched to me
- Stats / data with no sources and lack of context of those stats
- Not providing or skirting the question of funding and/or funding amounts
- Images with no captions or photo credit
- Offering an interview with the CEO right out of the gate before they have sufficiently outlined the story
- Marketing language overload
- Previously published quotes from execs
- PItching me on Twitter
- Calling me by the wrong name
What’s the best way for a PR newbie to build a relationship with you?
JKP: The best way for ANY PR person regardless of experience (senior PR people are often lazier than new PR people) is to read what I write. If you read what I write about, then you will know what to pitch me. It’s that simple.
Any tips you want to give to PR people who want to pitch you to make their pitches better?
JKP: Yea, read what I write, do your homework, don’t assume and show me there’s a story here for my readers, not for your client.
About Jennifer Kite-Powell
Jennifer Kite-Powell is a freelance writer, author and human tech contributor at Forbes and Modern American News. She covers innovation and the intersection of science and technology with art, health, environment, culture and agriculture. She’s a regular moderator of creative, AI and VR/AR panels at events and festivals worldwide including Mobile World Congress Americas, Biotech and Money London, Web Summit, etc. She is a frequent guest on 938Now’s Tech Scares. Her first book, “Love, Lust, Longing and Truth” was published in 2017 and is for sale on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and at Berl’s Poetry Shop in Brooklyn. Follow her on Twitter @jennalee (but please, NO pitches!)
