Be Your Own News Station

Social media is a fantastic tool.

And if you have news you believe a reporter would be interested in, you should definitely already be sharing it via your social media outlets.

We talk a lot about social media here -- how it works with traditional media, the elements that mirror traditional media and more.

Here are three ways you should be promoting your news via social media:

• Post a press release on your website. I love press releases. They're little snippets of history for your business or organization. Win a big award? Hire someone for a special position? Even if the media doesn't exactly care, you should share the news with people on your own.
• Record a video, post in on Youtube. Commemorate your own event. Make sure that the filming is smooth and edited and share it via your Facebook page, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Post pics on Tumblr or Instagram. If your business or organization is more photo-oriented, a pic speaks a thousands words.

The moral of the story? You don't always have to rely on traditional media to get the word out.

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.

Planning Ahead is an Understatement

It's no secret that reporters always operate in the future -- because they are always planning for the next issue, broadcast, post, etc.

That's why half of the time, I don't know what day it is.

That is also why you have to plan ahead. Way, way ahead. Here are a couple of tips to keep you on track.

1. Look at your own calendar. Think you have something good for Black History Month? Women's History Month? You should already be pitching it...in fact, you should have started last month.
2. It's better to be too early than too late. You would rather have a reporter tell you to call back than to tell you they don't have room for you because you called too late.
3. Have all the details in place. If  a reporter does want to cover your story, you should have all the details that they need ready for them.

The moral of the story? Reporters plan. You should be planning, too.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

3 Tips to Get a Reporter to Open Your Email

When it comes to pitching your news, it may come as a surprise that half the battle is getting the reporter to simply read your email.

You're sure that you have a great story, great facts, great everything. But if you don't make the email stand out in the massive amounts of messages that typically hit a reporter's inbox, that reporter will never know how great of a story you have.

Here are a few tips to increase your chances of the reporter even opening your email.

• Have a catchy subject line. This is the first thing a reporter sees. Don't make it too long or gimmicky.
• Don't send an attachment. Nobody trusts attachments any more...too many places for creepy viruses and spam to hide. In some cases, attachments don't even make it past the reporter's spam folder. Copy and paste your release within the text of the email.
• Call the reporter to let them know the email will be or has been sent. A follow-up definitely helps because if the reporter likes what you have to say in your message, they'll be sure to look for your email as well.

The moral of the story? A reporter won't know about your epic story if you can't engage them from the very first time you make contact with them.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

Five Ways to Handle A Mistake in Your Story

Your story is finally published or has made it on the air.

This is your moment of shining glory. Except.

The reporter made a mistake. So...now what? Do nothing and hope no one heard? Call the reporter and give them a piece of your mind?

The answer, quite simply, is neither option.

We've talked about how you can help reporters avoid mistakes before but let's talk damage control after it actually happens. Proceed with caution, though, because you should use these tips if there is an actual error or facts are misconstrued; NOT just because you didn't like how your quotes sounded.

1. Don't panic. It's not the end of the world. Assess the severity of the error and how it may impact your business or organization going forward. Make sure you calm done before you proceed to the next step, which is...
2. Contact the reporter. Be civil. Make sure you are able to articulate exactly what the error was and the subsequent correction or distinction you believe should be made.
3. Ask what your options are. Some publications or outlets will publish/air a retraction or correction, depending on the error. If you believe the reporter simply misunderstood or took a quote out of context, ask if you can write a letter to the editor explaining the issue. If it's broadcast, ask if they will consider a brief phone call to let you clear things up. 
4. Clarify on your website or social media. Worst case scenario, the outlets don't see an issue. You still have your own ways to publicize your stance. You may still share the link to the story, but with an addendum that says you want to clarify, correct or add to a certain point. Also, if it's a common misconception, you may want to take the opportunity to rephrase a certain point for your organization or business and invite feedback and discussion via Facebook or Twitter. Perhaps this is an image issue that you didn't even realize you had.
5. Don't bash the reporter. Try to remember that it isn't personal and everyone has a job to do. Even if you and the media outlet don't see eye to eye on the higher, take the higher road and don't burn bridges.

The moral of the story? Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. Respond to them and use them to make your next interview even better.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

3 Ways Publicity Can Make You Money

We've established that getting news coverage -- minus the cost of perhaps paying someone to pitch your news -- is free.

But.

You do know that publicity can make you money, right?

Through publicity, you can:

• Ask  for donations.
• Publicize a new product.
• Generate buzz about a new program or an anniversary/continuing success of a current one.
  
  All of these can lead to bigger and better partnerships, more clients and more customers.

However, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you're using your publicity to promote your business or organization.

1. Make it about your audience, not about you. People ultimately want to know how what you're doing affects them -- or their community. Make sure people know the bigger picture of how they can help the situation or how what you're doing is going to make their lives better.
2. Don't talk up the competition. Focus only on what you do. You don't want to put yourself in a situation where you've given other people a part of your space.
3. Don't waste a moment of your interview. Make sure everything you tell the reporter is deliberate and has a purpose.

The moral of the story? If done correctly, your publicity will compel people to go to want to find out more about your business or organization, therefore increasing your reach and your potential to make more money for your business or organization.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.

How the News Works

I've said it before.

Getting in the news is free -- and if you paid for an interview, it's not news.

Though you may pay a strategist or publicist or PR person to craft your pitch or press release or press kit to pique a reporter's attention. nobody pays the reporter to cover your story -- except their own publication. Because it's the reporters job

There are a few points worth reiterating here:

1. Reporters are bound by ethics laws that prohibit them from taking money from you. If money changes hands, the objectivity goes out of the window. Any gifts, even for holidays or to show appreciation, usually have a very small limit. This means you cannot pay someone for media coverage.
2. If you pay someone to publicize you, write the script because it's an advertisement. There are lot of of e-shows and such that charge money. If that's the case, please tell them that you should get to submit questions and answers, because you have essentially paid for a commercial.
3. Do your research before you try to submit your own article. Some media outlets, but not all, let you submit your own information for coverage. I've seen newspaper in smaller markets or towns that will print your press release as is or let you actually submit an article. But larger ones typically want their own reporters and photographers to cover the story. Do the research to be sure the media outlet you're targeting accepts submissions. 

The moral of the story? The media is a great tool and one that you can tap into -- if you know how to pitch your story correctly -- without a charge from them.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media 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.