Hello everyone,
hope you are all enjoying your internship as I am.
So, today I would like to share the importance of media relations within an organisation but more precisely within a PR department since I’ve observed that within TOTEM, media relations are the most important strategies that PR consultants can use.
First of all, media relation is the practice of developing relationships with journalists and editors at media outlets. The hope is that, from doing so, you will acquire media coverage for your business or cause. In addition, establishing relationships with the media can ensure fair coverage should controversy arise involving your organization or clients you are working for.
So, at TOTEM ive realised the importance of keeping good relations with the media since they can at same time help the org to earn good reputation and destroy it too.
For instance, when practitioners need to send press releases or they need any information, the first person the look for is journalist. Yeah journalist.!! During my lectures at CTI, i thought that media relations were important but during my internship i’ve learned that it is mandatory to build its own network of journalists.
Moreover i’ve learned some tips how to approach them as well hehehe ;)
Here you are:
1. Call them for a lunch
2. do not harass them with media releases that is of no use.
3. be available when they phone or set a time that you can be reached.
4. BE NICE to them!! :D
5. Truth always triumphs. So, be sure to say the truth about your business and clients.
6. Be prepared when speaking with the media.
7. Cast out the gods of fear!!! Speak with authority and conviction; don't be afraid to speak your mind about issues that are important to your industry.
8. Journalists love to know about the next big trend. If you want a journalist to remember you, help them out by letting them know which way your industry is heading.
So guys, any more tips, let us know?
XOXO
Sabrina
2 comments:
journalists and pr should hve a good relationship with each other.. totally agree..
like now my company is doing media buying, with a good connection with the local media and the journalists, everything is so smooth. :)
one thing that i realised, we need to know in depth with the journalists, befriend with them.
like, some of the urban guys out there would like to hang out in a bar and catch some nice vodka, this is the time where the account exec or in general the public relations people could do something,
hook them out for drink,
do not always phone them during office hour and for the sake of media releases, fact sheets, etc.
sometimes when we have some events, inform them, we may not be giving them rsvp but at least inform them about the event, tell them about the event, so that in their hearts they know u respect them.
did you post this in another reflective blog as well? i think i read before somewhere. lol.
so yeah, this is my point, try take into consideration when you work in future. i do have a good connection of journalists-friend-lists with me now. keep it tight, u may not know when u need their help.
cheers.
grace vaihung low
yeah you are right, a good media contact lists are vital for PR.
On my very first day I was assigned a mission which was to create a media contact list for the company. So i had to call the media people, and trace out all contacts that people from TOTEM knew. So, I had the opportunity to get a full updated contact lits which I guess might help me in the future... ;)
and yeah for the post, I read an article about the media relations recently so thought about sharing it with you guys! I dont have the link anymore :(
Sabrina
xx
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