Connecting with journalists
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Media Relations – Ruth
Journalists get a lot of stuff.
- Think strategically about the media list
- Develop media relations
- Identify the people who already cover your issue!
- Strike up a dialogue with person.
- Plan ahead.
- Court Reporters
- offer your knowledge/expertise
- ask them about their interests/expertise
Your media list shouldn't stay static.
- be intentional about updating the media list.
If someone isn't responding, move on.
Define “newsworthy”
- prominence
- significance
- timeliness
- Someone (ED) saying they are excited about something is NOT news.
Press Releases
- should be fact/ data driven
- the facts speak for itself. No Fluff
- Paragraph vs. FAQs
- Make it as easy as possible for journalists to get info
- Send press releases to the journalists directly
- Send press release in the body of the email. No attachments!
“Dear Media Partner's Here is our press release regarding ….... More information is available upon request. Contact Info”
Standard: 400 words
- Give when, where, how, quote
- Idea is to get reporter to want to talk to you
- Don't assume media has fact checkers
- embargo: send press release until specific date
- exclusive: when you give your story to 1 journalist
- think of press release as an elevator pitch
- introduce yourself to reporters & do your research on them