Media Monthly with Kathy Welsh of HVNN.com

July 5, 2016

Members of the media and PR pros can be friends. Yes, really. To give our blog readers a better insight into some of our favorite journalists, we offer up this “Media Monthly,” a Q&A-style blog post where we ask some questions and media experts weigh in.

Now, enough about us; let’s welcome Kathy Welsh, assignment editor at HVNN (Hudson Valley News Network).

Kathy, can you tell us more about HVNN.com?

HVNN.com is a news and information digital portal that covers the greater Hudson Valley. We offer free, daily, online news to our viewers who can keep up-to-date not only on the daily news but also breaking news. When my readers want to know about something ‘happening’ in the area, they visit HVNN.com for the information!

How long have you worked at HVNN.com?

Officially I have worked for HVNN.com since Jan. 1, 2015. However, unofficially I was behind the scenes since the Sept. 1, 2014 launch.

What does a typical day look like for you?

It starts out with going through the multitude of emails I receive looking for news. I also scour dozens of social media sites and websites numerous times a day for news as well. Then I begin posting the news on our site all day and updating Facebook with individual links for our readers’ convenience.

Name one fun fact that the average HVNN fan would not know about you.

People are surprised when I tell them I am a NASCAR fan! I don’t have a favorite driver; I enjoy watching how each team strategizes with pit stops, tire changes, track position and fuel.

What are your favorite stories to share with HVNN’s followers?

That’s a two-part question for me! On one hand we have our feature stories – the ‘feel good’ articles – about people and their accomplishments. On the other hand I deal with police news and crime all day, as well. And that topic typically draws the most viewers to our site, which increases our numbers. Viewers surreptitiously like to know what their ‘neighbors’ are up to!

What’s your number one PR pet peeve?

Only one?! (Laughing out loud!) I’ll give you a few – short and sweet:

• Receiving releases as a PDF
• Tabbed paragraphs
• No ‘live’ links in a press release
• Photos embedded in a word doc

How many hash tags are too many? (All of us at Impact are looking to impose a legal limit.)

I’m not a ‘hash tagger,’ so if I see more than one I go cross-eyed!

Do you have a favorite story you’ve worked on?
That’s a difficult question for me. I would have to say the story I was currently working on at the time. After 29 years of writing and editing, the stories/articles begin to blend together. For example: Did you read the story about the burglar who opened a new business, is running for local office, and is looking for his lost wallaby?  That about sums it up!

What do you love about living and working in the Hudson Valley?

We have access to just about everything in this region – music venues, historic homes, parks, recreation, shopping, the Hudson River, wineries, etc.  I grew up in Dutchess, so this area has always been home to me – even when we were on relocation for 11 years due to my husband’s job.

If someone wants to follow HVNN.com, how can they connect socially?

We offer a free phone app and people can like us on Facebook. Our website is free – no subscription. Visit us any time of the day or night. Our tag line is Your News, Your Choice, Your Time.