*Calling All Broadcasters: In a May 2007 nationwide survey of broadcasters and reporters, DS Simon Productions asked 79 respondents to grade PR Pros, give insight into how
story decisions are made, and address the growing role of management in newsrooms. Here are the results you need to know:
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56.4% of broadcasters love to be pitched by e-mail;
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41.3% hate being pitched by telephone, and 27.6% hate being pitched by fax;
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38.4% think that only 1/3 of PR people are knowledgeable about their programs
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95.7% of reporters and producers work on stories that appear on their Web site;
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52.2% said that their station's Web site could be pitched separately from newscasts;
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95.5% said that their Web site uses multi-media content;
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Only 16% of stations are banned from using third-party video; and,
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Healthcare stories are still the most in demand - 79.1% of respondents expressed high interest in health stories.
PR Pros should keep in mind that when pitching, you need to give the reporter or producer tools to sell the story to their manager. The phone is an important part of an
effective pitch, especially if you want feedback. Be aware that stations are increasingly carrying multi-media content on their Web sites that does not air on newscasts, and
station sites can be pitched separately, but usually through the newsroom.
Source: DS Simon
*Media relations got you down? here are 11 quick tips for landing media coverage.
1. Be reachable - Use business cards, press releases, and your Web site to provide contact info.
2. Get online.
3. The elevator pitch - Perfect a short pitch explaining what your business does that can be made in the time-span of an elevator ride.
4. Show your face - Keep good digital images of your executives and products on hand and make them available to the media to support stories.
5. Establish yourself as an expert by building credibility with speaking engagements.
6. Proofread.
7. Know your audience - Always tailor your pitch to specific publications.
8. Tell the whole story - Keep your reports concise but full of information, quotes and examples.
9. Plan ahead - Check editorial calendars to see if your business could be relevant to an already planned story.
10. Use newswires to distribute releases and reach reporters.
11. Respond promptly.
Source: Inc.com
*Get a Life: Struggling with the ever-challenging work-life balance equation? Consider these tips for keeping your priorities straight:
1. One life, one daybook - Keeping one calendar for work and home-life commitments makes it easier to coordinate the two.
2. Take a break - If you can't take a long vacation, set aside an hour each day to relax and enjoy something unrelated to work.
3. Audit your weekly schedule - Keep a log of your work and personal activities in order to determine how balanced your life is, then adjust accordingly.
4. Plan and protect downtime.
5. Know your options - Technology is increasingly offering more flexibility in work schedules, and your options may include a compressed workweek, flex hours, job-sharing or
telecommuting.
6. Get your priorities straight.
7. Stop being the boss - Leave the control freak at work.
Source: Inc.com
*When Ethics Bite Back: Companies are increasingly emphasizing ethics, but a recent case at Wal-Mart illustrates a problematic consequence of such polices. After going through
an employee training session with an emphasis on ethics, a Wal-Mart employee acted on guidance to report suspicious activity, informing the company's ethics office about what she
thought could be a case of insider trading by the VP of corporate communications, who also happened to be her supervisor.
The exec was eventually found innocent of the allegation but was informed of the mole's identity. The attempted good deed left the sleuth out of a job, posing an interesting
conflict for businesses: How should ethical complaints be handled? Consider allowing employees to report claims anonymously; minimizing the consequences of whistle-blowing;
ensuring protection of those who report indiscretions; and sending strong messages that ethics policies will be upheld.
Source: BusinessWeek.com