Look Harder: The Story Behind the Story

Reporters like creative, unique stories. We have covered that fact time and time again.

So I would like to challenge you to think outside the box when you're considering what a reporter may be interested in about your story.

Ask yourself: Is there something about your story, beyond the fundraiser, beyond the annual workshop that could make for an even more interesting story? Something that uniquely belongs to your organization? Look at what you think your story is. And then look again.

If there is, begin to brainstorm about the best way to describe it and communicate it to a reporter to get coverage. The moral of the story? Be different. It's key to getting news coverage.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media relations consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written thousands of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how to get their programs and efforts in the news. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.

Now is the Time

So how long has it been now that you have known that your organization could use publicity yet you let event after event and initative after initiative pass by without a peep to the media?

Probably too long.

Each time you put it off, each time you say, "Maybe next time," you are delaying (if not eliminating completely) an opportunity to get the word out about your awesomeness.

The moral of the story? The time is now. Start your research and start figuring out what you need to do to get the news coverage to be the next big thing.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media relations consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written thousands of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how to get their programs and efforts in the news. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.

When Skill and Publicity Meet

Social media has done it again -- specifically Youtube.

So what do you get when you mix an intriguing cover of the group LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" with the social media tool that exposes that cover to millions? An epic opportunity for 18-year-old Noah Guthrie, a South Carolina high school student who just goes by Noah.

So far, Noah appeared on the Today show and across countless blogs because of unusual arrangement of the song and its garnering of 2.5 million hits. Check out the Youtube video below. And as it turns out, it's not Noah's first cover slam dunk: two years ago, the singer/song-writer got some shine on the Ellen Degeneres Show.

The moral of the story? Using social media for something amazing and awesome is bound to get amazing and awesome publicity -- which leads to amazing and awesome opportunities. If you have something great, share it with the world. The publicity will follow.


Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media relations consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written thousands of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how to get their programs and efforts in the news. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.