A Five-Step Guide to Media Relations Success

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By: Bulldog Reporter

When I was in college, I had a part-time job as a server at a restaurant. It was my first time working as a server. Despite this, I enjoyed it very much and felt that I had the knack for it. The job itself was simple: Greet the diner, tell them your name and that you’re here to help take their order, and capture what they would like to eat and drink.

Customer service was, is, and always will be, the name of the game in the food-service industry to ensure your customers/diners are happy and satisfied with the experience.

Fortunately for me, this type of thinking translates well with the media relations world, too. So, how do we ensure that reporters and members of the media are getting what they need and are happy with the experience?

According to Wikipedia, media relations is defined as “working with media for the purpose of informing the public of an organization’s mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner.” Sounds pretty straightforward. And, that’s because it is. What we public relations practitioners do is not rocket science. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s just straightforward and if done well it can have a tremendous impact on your business.

If you’re looking to generate some good PR coverage for yourself or your organization, here are five steps to ensuring media relations success:

Do your homework: You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Don’t blow it by sending a pitch that is way outside the reporter’s coverage area. The time that you can devote to reading up on a reporter’s beat and the types of stories they’re interested in, will be well worth the investment and you’ll be ahead of the game and lay the groundwork for a good relationship.

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