Profnets of the Week

by allison ~ March 20, 2009

It’s time again to take a look at some of the strange and interesting queries from Profnet, a service that sends us journalist queries and calls for sources dozens of times throughout the day. Enjoy!

BEAUTY: Anti-Aging Pills — Univision.com
I seek experts in beauty, dermatologists and cosmeticians. I need information about benefits and negative effects of anti-aging pills and the ingredients in their formula. Contact: XXXXXXXXX

BELIEFS: The End of the World — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The end of the world, the apocalypse, the rapture — call it what you will. I’m exploring the idea of end times and its proponents for a story to appear in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in April. My jumping off point will be the Mayan Long Count calendar prediction relating to 2012. I am interested in talking to academics and other experts about what various doomsday cults believe and why they believe it. And I will mention films with end-of-world scenarios, including the upcoming “2012,” “Watchmen” and “Knowing.” The story will appear in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the largest paper in the state of Wisconsin, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. The story will also appear on the newspaper’s Web site and be distributed by wire services. Contact:XXXXXXXX

HOME: Do-It-Yourself Pest Control - Freelancer
Our Southwest daily is working on a feature on how homeowners are cutting back on expenses by doing things on their own — including pest control. We need experts who can give advice on what works and what does not, what products to avoid and how to use the ones that work. Please, just solid information, not gimmicks and gadgets. Contact: XXXXXXXX

BEHAVIOR: Attracted to Her Employee - Freelancer
For my dating column for women over 40, I’d like expert and anecdotal advice to help a 44-year-old divorcee who is fantasizing about her 20-years-younger employee, using all her willpower not to pounce on him. She knows this would be career suicide, but her personal life right now is such a mess that she is vulnerable to making self-destructive moves. Contact: XXXXXXXX

DATING: Pet Owners and Online Dating - Freelancer
I am proposing an article about “Pets and Dating — On the Internet” to Parade magazine. More and more singles are using their pets on the Internet as date bait. Online dating allows daters to be pet-specific, weeding out those who would or wouldn’t consider a long-term relationship with a pet owner. I will interview men and women who are ga-ga about their pets, who consider dogs their “furry kids” — to the point that they’ll only consider dating someone who shares that love. I will also interview dating/relationship experts, psychologists, and authors of recent books on this topic. Please do not send attachments at this time. Contact: XXXXXXXX