Posts Tagged ‘journalists’
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Closely monitoring breaking news on a regular basis is an important way to find opportunities for you or your clients to serve as an expert for the media during timely events. But days of breaking news might also be times to delay your pitches.
For example, we are not pitching stories to the mainstream media while outlets cover the events in Oklahoma. From an emotional perspective, we personally feel uncomfortable trying to sell the virtues of our story ideas at a time when the events of much higher importance are occurring in our country. From a practical perspective, we understand the media are focusing much of their attention on Oklahoma and slots for evergreen stories that could air at later dates are few and far between. Many of the journalists I worked with were not particularly excellent during days of breaking news of filing away unrelated stories for another day.
These scenarios are not typically black-and-white. Other media including those online with a specific focus likely welcome new ideas at any time. If your story idea is tied to a scheduled event you cannot postpone, you may have no choice but to pitch the story now despite the less than ideal circumstances. And some in the media may point out that even during big days of breaking news, they seek some unrelated ideas to ensure their coverage isn’t solely focused on one topic. But in reality, my experience indicates the spots and time slots you’re fighting for are reduced dramatically. And the space and airtime your idea receives may be reduced substantially.
The bottom line is breaking news is both a barometer for when to pitch ideas and when to wait for a better day.
Tags: breaking news, journalists, media, Media Relations, PR
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Friday, May 17th, 2013
The political tug of war between the Obama administration and Republicans has returned to its insane level of rhetoric that we remember prior to the November elections.
Some Republicans argue the administration misled the public about Benghazi to help ensure a victory in November. Some Democrats argue Republicans are making something out of nothing to tarnish Obama and Hillary Clinton’s potential presidential run in 2016.
Republicans want to know who knew what about the IRS. The administration also criticizes the IRS but points out the president does not run the agency.
And both sides of the aisle express unhappiness with subpoenas related to the Associated Press.
Some of the media seem to be complicit in a reality game show atmosphere, working side-by-side with politicians on whom can deliver the most sensational sound bites. These “scandals” raise some important discussions, but good grief. If only some politicians would work to solve our everyday problems with the same zeal that they try to call hearings and speak craziness into microphones.
For a moment, take off your political team’s bloodied uniform and acknowledge some of what’s really happening: In general, the administration wants to downplay any links to these issues as much as possible. On the other hand, some Republicans want to make these issues seem as dreadful as possible and portray the government as a stalker peaking through your bedroom window at night. Call it high stakes marketing far beyond the traditional press release. If some of these microphone huggers really wanted the truth, they would wait for their hearings to finish fleshing out the facts before demanding justice with their scary words.
The media are already analyzing how these current issues might impact Obama’s legacy without acknowledging our tug of war may likely have moved on to something new in six months. But Obama is taking some important steps for crisis communications:
- He showed concern about the IRS issue by saying, “Americans have a right to be angry about it, and I’m angry about it.”
- He took action by accepting the resignation of the top person of the IRS.
- The White House released e-mails related to Benghazi.
- He brought back legislation to help legally protect journalists.
- He answered questions at a news conference.
- He for the most part keeps his composure.
- He asked Congress to help improve security at American embassies.
I’m not saying he’s right. I’m saying those are some of the moves you make when opponents say you’re wrong.
Of course, others might share examples pointing out the administration put itself in this PR mess in the first place. Fair enough. But these latest steps help the president reach his larger goal of refocusing attention to his agenda. He is building a dam against gushing water. But some water will always leak through. His critics also have public relations firms armed with strategies. Even if Obama registered tomorrow as a Republican and shouted “pretty please with a cherry on top,” critics know to share phrases such as:
- “We demand more information.”
- “We reject the apologies as insufficient.”
- “This is politics at its worst.”
- “He is not going far enough.”
- “We are determined to get answers.”
So the tug of war continues with almost everyone landing in the mud. Some politicians hope to score points. The media hopes to improve ratings. Too much of the public is desperate for details that prove that the opposing party is truly the scum of the Earth.
And I, of course, write a blog, tired of grown-ups who can’t solve problems or controversies without acting like the sky is falling and it’s the other guy’s entire fault.
Tags: Associated Press, AZ, benghazi, crisis communications, hillary clinton, journalists, marketing, media, obama, politicians, politics, PR, press release, Public Relations, public relations firms, republicans
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Monday, April 22nd, 2013
A Los Angeles media relations vice president sent me a pitch that includes 20 paragraphs, one of several pitches I continue to receive one year and 11 months after I left my TV reporting job.
The email begins with two paragraphs addressed to me followed by an 18-paragraph report.
As a reporter, if I were interested in additional information, I would have requested from the media relations VP a report after her initial two-paragraph email seduced me. There is a reason people should not, during a first date, talk about themselves too much or give up too much of themselves after dinner. First, you do not want the person on the other side of the table to feel overwhelmed by your words. Second, if you give it up on a first date, you increase the chances someone might not come back for more. In fact, in this situation, when time permitted, I may have taken some tidbits of this release and tried to develop my own story locally without ever contacting the person who sent the pitch. Media relations often is similar to showing a little leg. Give them just enough to tantalize them and to want to call you back.
But this first date went sour for many more reasons. The 18-paragraph report is under the words “for immediate release.” I reported on television for 17 years and do not recall any times the words “for immediate release” played any practical role in the newsroom. I have raised this point more than once before, sparking a contentious debate among public relations professionals. If someone sent me a news release, I assumed it was for immediate release and continue to not understand why including those words is necessary. I conclude that including the words “for immediate release” is an old-school practice that, in my experience, serves no practical purpose for my former colleagues or me. As always, I am open to other points of view. However none of the previous debates I have sparked has given me reasons to change my opinion.
The first two paragraphs do not explain why this story would specifically romance a Phoenix audience. The paragraphs also do not include the names of a local person or business to court for the story.
The pitch says the author of the included report is available to talk, but the release does not explain why I should interview him instead of someone local. In fact, I actually interviewed local experts on similar topics more than two years ago.
The 20 paragraphs include a slew of statistics and percentages and I find myself willing only to skim all the information. Considering the number of emails some reporters and producers receive each day, most of them probably would not get past the first or second paragraph after seeing the length of the pitch.
Journalists willing to wade through the thicket of information might actually find ideas for interesting stories. This is especially true for trade media. Unfortunately, if the media relations vice president is hoping to attract the attention of a larger audience outside the industry, her pitch will likely often miss its target because how she dressed it. It reads more like a research report than something meant to woo journalists in a timely fashion.
There will not be a second date.
Tags: interview, journalists, media, Media Relations, news release, newsroom, Phoenix, PR, producers, Public Relations, public relations professionals, reporters, television
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Monday, April 15th, 2013
I believe as a reporter it was my responsibility to ask tough questions or at least ones that viewers at home were mumbling to themselves while watching the news. Some people thought these questions reflected my personal views. The fact that my last reporting job was at a Fox station compounded some people’s perceptions.
In today’s environment of partisan journalism, some questions actually reflect the journalist’s personal views. (I hesitate to use the word journalist in the previous sentence because a journalist in reality should be objective.) However I want to believe most partisan journalism is confined to the cable news networks with some exceptions outside that arena. I want to believe most journalists are just asking tough questions because that is their legitimate job.
Don’t take it personally when reporters ask tough questions. Few reporters want anyone to mistake them as a member of a public relations team. Some reporters go overboard and feel obligated to ask tough questions, to dig deeper into a story, even if they’re covering a bake sale.
First, try to learn what reporter will be interviewing you, limiting the chances someone will catch you off guard. Second, understand most journalists are covering news, not conducting an interview for the yearbook. Expect tough questioning and practice for it. Don’t let them see you sweat. Don’t say something sarcastic about the questions. Some journalists are looking for such a reaction. Don’t give it to them. It’s not personal. It’s business, the business of journalism.
Tags: cable news networks, journalism, journalists, media, media training, news, news network, PR, Public Relations, reporters
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Thursday, March 7th, 2013
I know instantly when I’m talking to a man and his eyes begin to drift to the side like a vehicle starts to drift when its driver is on a cell phone. Often, the man is processing the attractiveness of a woman passing by. This phenomenon takes place even if I’ve engaged this person in a conversation about business, sports or world peace. It doesn’t take much to get distracted.
News stories are eye candy for journalists. For example, someone at a media outlet sent me a message about my pitch: ”They like your idea, should I give them your number?” But no one called.
Another reporter wrote me, “Hi Keith! We’d like to talk to your expert about —–. Could you please provide a name & number? Thanks!”
When the reporter didn’t call that day, the client said, “FYI, no word yet from —-.”
A reporter actually called the next day, but the point is clients often don’t get the media’s mentality. For example, it was not uncommon for a TV station to give me a story and then re-assign me two more times within an hour. This is especially exasperating when I started calling people for interviews, hung up the phone and learned someone changed my story.
So consider some media like that man who finally gave you time for an important discussion. Just when you think you’ve sealed the deal, something else walks in and distracts him. The media like sexy stories and your hot idea is just one nice pair of legs away from being yesterday’s news.
Tags: interview, journalist, journalists, media, media outlet, news stories, PR, reporter, sports, TV station
Posted in Media Relations | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
That title sounds silly. But some interviews lack questions.
A TV anchor recently interviewed one of our clients live. Our client provided five answers during the interview. But all five answers were responses to statements not questions by the anchor. The anchor made statements, in a sense providing his own analysis, and then paused for our client to respond with answers.
I know firsthand these types of interviews can feel awkward. After I finished a live shot, anchors sometimes made statements expecting me to respond with answers. In those situations, the anchors did not actually ask questions.
This form of communication seems easy in everyday life. We have back and forth conversations without questions necessarily prompting the discussion to move forward. But this can throw some people off especially during live interviews in which you expect naturally to be asked questions.
Practice handling these interviews before the real thing. Respond to these statements in the same way you might if they were slightly reorganized into questions. And keep some extra facts and information in your back pocket to use in these very circumstances. If no one asked you a question and there is no obvious way to respond, use these opportunities to provide additional information you might otherwise not have an opportunity to share.
Hopefully you will not face these interviews often. But some journalists, TV hosts and other on air personalities like this style of interview.
In an ideal world, if reporters didn’t ask you questions, you wouldn’t need to provide answers. But just sitting there, saying nothing and staring back would truly look silly.
Tags: anchors, interviews, journalists, live interviews, media, media training, PR, reporters, tv anchor, tv hosts
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
During media training, a participant said to me no offense, but she encounters reporters especially in TV who are dumb as rocks. Reporters show up to interviews with no concept of the topic. They even ask her what questions to ask.
Other participants agreed this lack of intelligence seems more prevalent in TV news. How would I respond?
First, I imagine every industry employs people we cannot believe have their positions. I don’t have studies concluding TV news has a higher share of dumb dumbs. But let’s use some logic. Many TV news directors don’t hire the best reporters they can find. They hire the best reporters they can find who are good looking. Some people might be excellent journalists, engaging to watch and know how to turn even the most mundane topics into visual masterpieces. But if those same reporters look like Elmer Fudd and sound like Mickey Mouse, their chances of holding a microphone or anchoring the news plummet. On The Flip Side, some news directors don’t mind teaching beauty queens how to report the news.
There’s another factor to consider. It was not uncommon for me to arrive for a 1:30pm editorial meeting and be told to go live at 5pm about, for example, a complex insurance story I knew nothing about. The assignment desk hustled me out the door to an interview it previously scheduled. With the few minutes allotted, I turned to Google, jumped on my smartphone and gathered every kernel of information I could on the way to the interview. You can see how someone less ambitious might show up with very little knowledge, although asking people what questions to ask them is an experience I can’t relate to. But TV general assignment reporters cover everything and often have little time to study.
The silver lining is this: A reporter who doesn’t have a clue might be less willing to hit you with hard questions. They just want to finish the interview without making themselves look any more like a jackass. So if an unprepared reporter shows up and sounds like a dummy, be smart and guide the interview to go just like you want. Yes, take advantage of the situation. The media often push people into a tough corner. You can return the favor when possible to push your agenda to an unprepared journalist.
Tags: assignment desk, elmer fudd, google, interview, interviews, journalist, journalists, media, media training, mickey mouse, news director, news directors, PR, reporter, reporters, tv news
Posted in Media Relations, Media Training | No Comments »
Monday, January 14th, 2013
In the movie “Wanderlust,” a TV reporter is covering a groundbreaking. Alan Alda’s character, speaking through a bullhorn, asks her to stay to report the real story of a land dispute. She declines, citing time constraints.
Jennifer Aniston’s character asks the reporter, “You want a news story?” and then takes off her top. The reporter returns to cover the story. Other men and women also start taking off their shirts. Aniston’s character and her friends later watch the news, smiling in pride at the coverage they generated.
Would going topless really grab an otherwise uninterested media? Absolutely. TV newsrooms like few things better than to blur out something. I even recall an example of a newsroom obscuring out something that, in my opinion, did not need blurring, making the content more interesting and mysterious.
But going topless brings risks and questions:
- How would taking off shirts affect your brand? Would going topless to obtain news coverage be worth breaking with a brand which otherwise promotes people wearing clothing?
- Would your spokespeople be able to speak smoothly to the media and keep on key messages without wearing a top?
- Would your representatives speak passionately or allow the adrenaline rush to drastically change their tones?
- How would a business ensure the stunt did not backfire? It’s one thing for glamous Hollywood actors to pretend to protest in the nude. Would you be ready to see real life co-workers take on this task?
- Would the company itelf take its own photos to post on social media?
- How about citizen journalists covering the event who decide to post video without blurring it?
- And how would a business handle employee communications, ensuring everyone understands the strategy and can come forward with concerns?
The movies can inspire us and reflect reality more than we wish to acknowledge. But before trying topless, consider how the concept fits into the overall communications plan. Most likely, the end will bring more than simply rolling credits.
Tags: alan alda, citizen journalists, communications plan, employee communication, employee communications, Hollywood, hollywood actors, jennifer aniston, journalist, journalists, media, Media Relations, news story, newsroom, newsrooms, PR, reporter, Social Media, tv news, tv newsroom, tv newsrooms, tv reporter, video
Posted in Media Relations, Public Relations | No Comments »
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
During media training, participants shared with us these eight negative statements about news media.
- Participant worries about journalists twisting or misinterpreting her words.
- Participant shares a negative experience with a reporter who never made time for her.
- Participant says one reporter acknowledged his management wants to “go after” an aspect of her organization.
- Participant asks what motives reporters have when interrupting people trying to answer questions.
- Participant has little media experience but considers the prospect terrifying.
- Participant considers media intimidating and that they often misrepresent people.
- Participant says some reporters consider you guilty until proven innocent.
- Participant says some reporters craft facts and omit others.
Tags: journalist, journalists, media, media experience, media training, news, news media, PR, reporter, reporters
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Wednesday, November 14th, 2012
I have often heard some people argue there’s a media conspiracy to get certain politicians elected or to push certain agendas. Yes, some news organizations have gained reputations for being either liberal or conservative. But I scoff at the idea that multiple news organizations and an invisible underground association of journalists conspire secretly together to get what they want. Why? Because most media are just not that organized. Here are some examples:
Evening producers sometimes assigned me stories they didn’t know the morning show already aired. If the media can’t communicate within the same room, how can they conspire nationally?
When management devises a new plan for delivering the news, they often quietly scrap that strategy weeks later. They couldn’t commit to a lengthy conspiracy.
Many journalists aren’t devoted to a particular political party. They are loyal to anyone offering them free food.
How bad was the communication in some newsrooms? I often emailed people two desks over to ensure I had a record of my words.
For every liberal writer behind the scenes in journalism, there is a well-paid anchor or manager not interested in paying one extra dime in taxes.
Many in media consider themselves an expert in all topics, so a conspiracy would almost certainly implode from within.
Managing a conspiracy would take too much time away from fantasy football and discussing shoes.
Many members would drop out of the conspiracy after learning the schedule didn’t allow a full hour for lunch.
The paperwork alone for filling out time sheets, delivering silly memos and taking care of reimbursements would make a conspiracy financially impossible and too slow to be effective.
Conspiracies don’t work by putting a bunch of people up front and in the public eye just because they have pretty faces.
Tags: Communications, fantasy football, journalism, journalist, journalists, media, morning show, news, PR, producer, producers
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