Don’t be media shy, be media savvy!

Media releases and launches are a great way of getting FREE publicity for your organisation and promotional campaigns. This is called proactive media.

So don’t be shy, be media savvy!

The media is inundated with media releases every day, so make yours stand up and be counted by following these simple steps:

1. PLAN – write down the following headings: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW and write one sentence under each.
2. ATTRACT INTEREST – summarise your media release in the first paragraph –who, what, when, where, why, how should all be in the first paragraph.
3. GAIN CREDIBILITY – make the spokesperson in your media release the highest person in your organisation ie Chairperson or CEO.
4. GRAB ATTENTION – make your headline something the media wants to hear – this is the all important part. If it’s not newsworthy, the media will ignore your release.
5. KEEP IT SHORT – they call it rip and read in the media, so keep your release short and to the point ie one page, one and a half line spaces, with 11-12pt font.
6. INVITE – include the name, title, telephone and mobile number of your media spokesperson at the end so the media can contact them for more information.
7. TARGET YOUR DISTRIBUTION – only send your media release to the newspapers, TV and radio in your target group. This will not only save you time and money in distribution but will also ensure you retain a good relationship with the media based on relevant information.

Did you like this communications tip? Dreamtime are happy to bring you more like this including when and when not to respond to the media (reactive media).

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