MediaSmart

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about whether the media is good or evil. For purposes of our work as people who thrive through a symbiotic relationship with journalists, we’re going to focus this week on how you can make their jobs easier.

For the most part, reporters are stretched thin, and have less time than ever to research and write (or produce) their stories. From how you pitch to providing photos, there’s a lot you can do that will ultimately benefit both of you.

To learn more, click on the ‘Play’ button and listen to Episode 47 of MediaSmart.

When working with the media, your main goal is to convey your message effectively. That seems simple enough – but it’s a tall task when you need to translate lots of complicated information for a general audience.

Researchers, economists, computer programmers and many others live in a world of complex data. This week, we discuss how to simplify obscure concepts and be sure your key messages will resonate with the people you’re trying to reach.

To learn more, click on the ‘Play’ button and listen to Episode 46 of MediaSmart.

As with so much else, preparation is key before walking into a media interview or facing journalists at a news conferece. And a key part of that preparation is anticipating likely questions.

This means preparing for the tough ones – not just the “softballs” – and questions that delve into details not covered by the news release.

To learn how to think like a reporter and anticipate questions, click on the ‘Play’ button and listen to Episode 45 of MediaSmart!

It’s easy to think that your job in a media interview is to impart your wisdom and facts upon the reporter, and as long as he or she nods, smiles and takes a few notes, you’ve accomplished your mission.

But ultimately, it’s important to speak in a way that connects with your audience – that is, the readers, listeners or viewers. In order to reach them, you need to connect with the reporter, who serves as the conduit. It’s similar to the telephone game:  You need to convey the information as clearly as possible to the journalist, in hopes that he or she, in turn, conveys it accurately to their audience.

In this episode, we discuss the various types of reporters and media outlets, walking through three of the most common scenarios.

Click the ‘Play’ button to hear Episode 44 of MediaSmart!

The media has taken a beating lately, especially in the presidential election. Depending on whom you ask, TV and radio stations and newspapers are somewhere between untrustworthy and completely irrelevant.

All of this talk may have you wondering whether it’s even worth giving journalists the time of day. Why not just promote your organization through ads, word of mouth and social media and let those reporter calls go through to voicemail?

We brush aside the cynicism this week and outline four reasons why pretty much every business or organization benefits from a positive relationship with the local and national media.

Click the ‘Play’ button to hear Episode 43 of MediaSmart!

The opposite of connecting with your audience is distracting them. In this episode, we discuss three distractions that can kill your message – and ways to avoid each of them. They include:

* Dressing to distract

* Use of filler words

* Poor eye contact

Click the ‘Play’ button to hear Episode 42 of MediaSmart!

According to some, PR pros should be seen but not heard in media interviews. Others insist they should stay completely away from the interview in the first place.

Then, there’s the crisis comms consultant for former Baylor University Chancellor and President Ken Starr, who became part of the story when she injected herself into an interview by pulling her client out of the room after he stumbled through his answer to a tricky question.

In this episode, we explore this gaffe and what we can all learn from it, and get input from several listeners on the role they feel a PR person should – and shouldn’t – play in an interview.

Click the ‘Play’ button to hear Episode 41 of MediaSmart!

Before you pitch your story to a journalist, it’s helpful to think through the criteria he or she will use when deciding whether your story is “news.” To be sure, the equation will vary depending on the reporter, the news outlet, when you’re calling and even what else is happening that day. To some extent, several different factors weigh into a reporter’s decision, including:

* Timeliness

* Impact

* Proximity

* Prominence

* Singularity

* Conflict/controversy

What do these mean – and how do they come into play with YOUR story? Click the ‘Play’ button to learn more in Episode 40 of MediaSmart!

Mark Twain once said: “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” On this episode, we discuss how one of these can help you do great interviews. (Hint: It’s not ignorance.)

When conducting media training sessions, I’ve noticed a cloud of uncertainty sometimes hangs in the room – especially when it involves people who haven’t done many interviews. A multitude of fears surface, from concerns over “how I’ll look on TV” to “What if they ask me a question I’m not expecting?”

A key solution to overcoming such fears is approaching the interview with confidence, and knowing that you’re ready to handle whatever questions may come your way, even if you don’t know exactly what they’ll be. Confidence helps you stay organized and convey trustworthiness.

Want to learn five ways to boost your confidence prior to that next media interview? Click the ‘Play’ button to listen to Episode 39 of MediaSmart.

Back on Episode 34, we addressed some timely headlines that involved people in the limelight declaring war on the media. This week, we revisit the topic to focus on a very specific battle in that war: banning journalists.

From Donald Trump’s official revocation of the Washington Post’s press credentials to a similar move by the mayor of Harrisburg, Pa. against the newspaper of record in that city, what effects – both intended and otherwise – can these bold steps have?

On this episode of MediaSmart, we outline five considerations around the outright “media ban.”

Click the ‘Play’ button below to hear more!