Media Relations

Recently, our team at PRNEWS decided to revive a series for our readers: “Ask a Reporter.” With logistical changes in the workforce, as well as a news cycle that just won’t quit, PR and media need to work more harmoniously than ever to get the public the information it needs. During “Ask a Reporter” we will interview a fellow journalist, finding out what works best for them when it comes to media relations.

You know it’s a slow news day when PRNEWS breaks out a story about the joys of embargoed stories. Seriously, we found that like most everything else, you can embargo well or embargo poorly. We also learned that the PR pro does not live by embargoes alone. Frequently, there must be exclusives or one-on-one interviews.

The media market was changing before the pandemic hit. Some of those changes have accelerated or slowed as a result of the novel coronavirus. How should PR pros approach the next few months and the years after that? Our author offers three trends to consider.

Recently, PRNEWS decided to revive the series “Ask a Reporter.” With logistical changes in the workforce, as well as a news cycle that won’t quit, PR and media need to work more harmoniously than ever to get the public the information it needs. During “Ask a Reporter,” we will interview a fellow journalist, finding out what works best when it comes to media relations.

Unfortunately not every organization can boast of a true wordsmith. And that is where public relations professionals can really lend a hand. With so much content infiltrating journalists’ inboxes it can be difficult to create a memorable press release. Including an unforgettable quote can stop readers in their tracks, encouraging them to take a closer look at the story. 

It’s like a swimmer who hates water, but some PR pros don’t relish dealing with members of the media. Worse, some lack news sense or have never spoken with a journalist. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to become a media-friendly PR pro. Here are a number of tips from veteran PR pro and former journalist Arthur Solomon that can help you become media friendly.

A well-known PR adage is, ‘If you don’t tell your story, someone else will.’ A bevy of major retailers has paraphrased that aphorism to fit the moment: ‘If the government doesn’t protect our employees and customers against coronavirus, we will.’ By requiring masks, these iconic brands have become healthcare policy wonks.

The White House has turned up the gas on a campaign to discredit Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Washington Post published an article July 11 outlining the various ways the White House has silenced Fauci over the past several weeks. The report aired a statement from the Trump administration claiming “several White House officials are concerned about the number of times Dr. Fauci has been wrong on things,” which, according to the Post, “included a lengthy list of the scientist’s comments from early in the outbreak.”

Most PR pros learn about media relations in school or on the job. Matt Newey, a photographer and ski nut, absorbed some of the basics through trial and error. He pitched his personal story of contracting COVID-19 to hundreds of reporters. It worked.

The investment management and stock trading app Robinhood has come under fire in recent months for its allure to young and inexperienced investors. On July 8, a New York Times report took a look at those who have played the stocks and lost big on the app, delving into common complaints from Robinhood users including gamification and technical glitches. How should its communication team respond?