Media Relations

Media relations – how it can help your organization

Media relations is an area that tends to intimidate many businesses and organizations. Too often the media are seen as the enemy or the bad guy. Don’t talk to them – they will only misquote you or make you look bad. It’s better to say nothing than to risk a bad interview. These are common misconceptions that can actually cause your company more harm than good.

Well planned, proactive or reactive media relations strategies are key to the success of all organizations. This is a more detailed approach to talking to the media than just returning a phone call and asking the questions posed to you by a journalist. Rather it means working with a media relations professional to draft your key messages – what points do you want to get across in your interview so your message is heard. It also includes media coaching – how to conduct an effective interview and how to avoid common pitfalls, such as losing control of the interview.

As a trained journalist with 10 years of experience as a reporter and newspaper editor, I can work with you and your organization to develop an effective media relations strategy. I know the common traps, having used them myself as a reporter. I can provide one-on-one coaching or group media relations training. This training includes an overview of the basics of media relations, common pitfalls, proactive and reactive media relations tools and a practical hands-on exercise ending with a mock news conference conducted by the participants. My media relations course can be conducted in half a day or a full day – depending on your organizational needs.