New Free Service Brings Fresh Story Ideas And Sources To Inbox Of Media

Online, November 5, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Chicago, Ill (November 2009) Journalists and bloggers now have a new, free and easy way to find ideas and sources for stories. It's called MyStorySource.com and it's the first of its kind service connecting media with those small businesses and nonprofits they wouldn't normally locate on their own. The simple to read email distribution starts mid-November, but media can sign up now to get on the list.

Started by former journalist and small business public relations and marketing veteran Jennifer Fortney, President of Cascade Communications, My Story Source is a truly unique concept for helping media find fresh sources and building a community that promotes business amongst those organizations highlighted in the daily email program.

"Media are always asking me if I know of any cool new businesses, events or products they can feature, and outside of my own clients I have to say no," said Fortney. "When the idea came to me for My Story Source I knew it would answer so many of the questions media ask me in a simple email that they can print off and keep on file or contact a source immediately."

She adds that some of her biggest media coups for clients have come because the timing was right. "Media are busier today than ever before and they can miss emails, voicemails or packages. Sometimes it's all about getting them at the right moment that can lead to a cover story. My Story Source seeks to put all of this information into one email that takes only a few minutes to scan."

One of the many goals of My Story Source is to alleviate some of the foot work for journalists by providing a credible and reliable email distribution service of great story ideas and sources they can pull from. In turn, it is also looking for small businesses and nonprofits to join and Be a Source. "More than just being a source that could lead to a positive media story, My Story Source seeks to build a community of support for these organizations," says Fortney. "We encourage them to interact, do business together, build partnerships and generally promote business."

Fortney says that the email distribution will provide media with a list of contents, contact information and a variety of brief pitch angles from expert topics to new product launches and company announcements from a wide variety of industries and organizations. "There will be something here for every journalist and blogger."

While people can currently sign up to get on the email distribution list at MyStorySource.com, the first My Story Source email will come out in mid-November, allowing for plenty of exposure for those initial sources. The distribution will continue once a day and slowly grow to twice a day as membership and demand increase.

"I know there will be a number of PR people involved in the service on behalf of their clients, but I also see this as a real opportunity for those small businesses and nonprofits that can't afford a publicist to get in front of media, giving them something fresh and new to cover."

About MyStorySource.com
Started in November 2009 by former journalist and small business PR and marketing expert Jennifer Fortney, President of Cascade Communications, My Story Source is a unique service connecting media to small businesses and nonprofits they might not learn of otherwise. It also seeks to build a community of support amongst participating organizations to network, do business together, build partnerships and generally support one another. The service is a daily email distribution that highlights story pitches and fresh sources for journalists and bloggers. For more information, please visit www.MyStorySource.com.