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.

Bad News Travels Faster

Someone once said that lies can travel the world while the truth is still getting its pants on.

I think this statement is mostly true and can certainly be applied to good news and bad news. The unfortunate fact is: bad news can also travel faster.

If you look at social media and what gets the most reposts and retweets, sure, there are some amazing quotes, pictures and videos that get great feedback. But cases like the latest social media nightmare for Progressive Insurance can easily get way more air time.

According to CNN Money: "The company's crisis began [in August] when a customer's sibling published a Tumblr post with the kind of headline public-relations people have nightmares about: "My Sister Paid Progressive Insurance to Defend Her Killer In Court.

...Fisher's blog post went viral overnight and was re-shared on Tumblr more than 10,000 times. The Internet hive turned savagely on Progressive and its iconic spokeswoman."

To compound the issue, Progressive apparently responded with a series of RoboTweets, when a genuine, heartfelt statement was probably more appropriate.

The moral of the story isn't not to use social media or to be fearful of what people may say about you. But if you're confronted with bad news, remain genuine and heartfelt. Make sure that your message remains consistent and that you report on your own good news, even if no one else does. 

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.

Social Media vs. Traditional Media...Which Wins?

I'm a reporter.

Yes, I know, you know that. As a reporter, how I help people is share what I know from being on the inside, so to speak, to help you put together a better story to present to people just like me.

So when I hear that PR folks are no longer needed due to social media, I have to pause.

Social media is an awesome supplement for traditional media. I actually love social media, so don't think that I'm not a fan.

But social doesn't replace traditional media, for several reasons but here are my top three:

• Third-party verification. Of course, you think you're awesome. But when someone else thinks you're awesome, someone who isn't paid to retweet your promo or to say certaing things on a Youtube video, it's still good news.  Reporters are that third party that can objectively -- more or less -- report on what makes you great.
• People still trust the news. Reporters have a way of digging up facts that people still trust and care about. Though you may be able to spread your entertainment quickly via social media, a lot of people don't trust it until it comes from a credible news source.
• Traditional news multiplies social media. When a video goes viral, it's a great thing. And imagine how many more hits the video gets when it gets shown on "Good Morning America."

I love social media. And I love traditional media. The moral of the story? Effective marketing, PR and publicity strives to use a good combination of both.

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.

The Fine Line Between Social Media and Spreading Rumors

We've spoken before about about using social media, such as Twitter, as means to get news and information.

Though I concede people may first "hear" about news on their social media feeds and streams, I also believe that many people Google or check a reputable news outlet before believing -- or spreading -- the information.

But over the last few days, we have an intriguing case and I'd love to know what say you about when spreading information via social media becomes a criminal offense.

According to the Associated Press, two men in Mexico City face charges of terrorism and panic after Tweeting false reports that gunmen were attacking schools. Chaos and 26 car crashes ensued as terrified parents rushed to pick up their children, prosecutors said. If convicted, the men could face up to 30 years in prison.

Meanwhile, defense attorneys said the two men were simply retweeting and posting what had been told to them.

So, what do you think? What is the responsibility of social media users to verify before they post? And in what situations?

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 advises nonprofits and small businesses on how they can get media attention for their programs and efforts. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.