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.

It Takes More Than An Idea

A lot of people have great ideas.

What separates you from the person with just another great idea is that you have set the work in motion to make it happen. When you have at least started the work, that's when you should contact a reporter.

No journalist wants to do a story on someone who turns out to just be a talker. The one with the grand ideas and declarations, but nothing to actually show for it. If you're wondering about the timing of sending out your pitch or press release, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Documentation -- Have you actually filed the paperwork to start your nonprofit? Is there a board of directors in place or a website? Find something tangible lends you credibility that you are doing what you say you are doing.
• Your team -- Is there a least one other person who can vouch for you? Someone who is willing to step up and say they are on board with what you are doing? Make sure that person is available to talk to the reporter too. Again, this speaks to credibility if other people are willing to publicly support what you are doing.
• Your message -- Are YOU sure about what it is you're doing? If you cannot clearly articulate the goal of your business, organization or event, perhaps you are not ready for 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.

Publicity Takes Work...Even the Stunts

Some may think that they are just interesting enough, cute enough or just plain great enough to get in the news with little or no effort.

But publicity, just like anything else, takes work. The entire thing is a process because whatever you have done that you think deserves publicity took work to do -- and then it's more work to do your research and catch the attention of the reporter.

Even publicity stunts -- which by definition, are things an individual(s) do that are just crazy enough to get the attention of reporters -- take work in the planning and execution. Think of the whole Balloon Boy fiasco. I don't suggest that you sit around and think of any stunts. Because even if you do get what you hoped for, people typically don't react well to something that has no substance.

Instead, why don't you plant that energy into really cultivating what your organization or business offers? Or invest time and effort into great partnerships that could spawn great events that reporters will be interested in because their audience will be interested in it?

The moral of the story? Nobody gets publicity for doing nothing at all. So let's get to work.

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

In-Depth Journalism: A Thing of the Past?

Think back to the last time you read, saw or listened to a well-put together, thoroughly researched news report.

If you're scratching your head trying to come up with something, you're not alone.

Media experts speaking at a hearing held by the Federal Communications Commission at Arizona State University earlier this week said new media organizations are coming anywhere close to filling gaps created by traditional media outlets that have had to let go of journalists.

So what does that mean? 

"Real news has too often been replaced by fluff, and democracy is not well served by fluff," Commission member Michael Copps said.

A report on the matter said "daily newspapers have decreased their staffing levels by more than 25 percent since 2001 and that the shortage of local reporting means that scandals aren't exposed, public dangers aren't identified and local political candidates aren't vetted as they once were," according to the Associated Press.

It's not a new complaint as veteran reporters are replaced with less experienced reporters for lower pay and even the ones left behind have less time to work on an in-depth piece before it has to be cranked out to be posted on the Internet to keep up with other competitors.

Proposed solutions include more partnership among news competitors and nonprofit news organizations to fill in the gap. The report also suggested creating public affairs cable channels similar to C-SPAN at the state level, easing tax rules for nonprofit news organizations and directing more federal advertising spending to local news media, AP said.