Media Relations

Technology has invaded the world of media relations, allowing PR pros to send press releases and other announcements easier and quicker than ever. Still, a recent PRNEWS webinar emphasized the human factors in media pitching, including building relationships with journalists through phone calls and empathy.

It was one of those rare weekends. Just about any news story was getting crickets from the media except for one. Indeed, there were several examples of moderate PR crises, but few noticed. Basing your crisis strategy on other stories crowding out media coverage of your company’s PR crisis is a gamble that hardly ever pays.

Even before the pandemic, plenty of major media outlets were struggling to stay in business. With fewer targets to pitch, is it time to ditch your media relations strategy? Veteran communicator Michael Monahan argues there still are myriad ways to attract coverage, even if one of the solutions means PR pros are crafting content.

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.