Working with the Press can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. The press needs you and you need the press it can be a mutually beneficial relationship if you understand the things the press is looking for.

What is qualified as “news”

• Timely Information
• Conflict, disagreement
• Life or death
• First, biggest, newest, oldest
• Novelty
• Affects the audience

When pitching something to press make sure it falls under at least one of the above. If it doesn’t it likely won’t get coverage or meet the reporter’s needs.

Reporters are looking for:

• A good story
• More facts than they have
• Colorful quotes
• Context & comparison

Remember YOU are the Expert

Give them the information they need to shape their story. Media are your conduit not your enemy. Keep it short & simple. Repeat it until they write it down. Offer news, not fluff.

Make sure you give any media, at minimum, a week’s notice preferably as much as you can get in order to have it on their radar and planning that will increase your chances of coverage as well.