Wednesday - 21 July 2010
Topics: Media Relations /Media Pitch/ Understanding News Angles
In our last discussion, we covered a topic on media relations and the importance of producing a good pitch as well as what makes news worthy. These topics were highlighted to understand its crucial role in public relations.
As we know, media relations is vital and it requires a lot of skill and practice about the media as well as knowledge on current affairs and issues. Hence, having a broad understanding on what drives the media and knowing how the media functions is essential.
So what is Media Relations all about
The job function that involves the working coordination with various media in order to inform the public about an organisations mission, policies and practices in a positive and reliable way.
- It is critical in public relations as it requires dealing with journalist and editors who are responsible for producing the news and features in the mass media.
- The aim in media relations is to generate positive coverage in the mass media.
How to develop good media relations skillsThe key ingredients are of course;
- Creating an awareness of what is available in the media
- Understanding how media channels differ from each other
- Gain more exposure through magazines, newspapers, journal and blogs and highlight the various news angles featured by journalist and news editors.
- Develop a creative sense of communication and professional relationship with the media.
- Knowing how to make full use of the media to your best advantage
PITCH
- Crucial element in media relations
- Media want pitches that have “human-angle preference”
- A pitch is like sales. One must often consider “what am I selling?” and “who will buy it?”
- It is important to know that you are crafting a story and that someone needs to buy it.
- When you understand the media’s needs than - “a good story sells itself.”
How to make a good pitch
- Know what your story is all about
- Identify how it would fit into a newspaper or magazine and what sections does it cover
- Approach the right media personnel
- Write an inquiry letter that will tell the editor about your story, its relevance to the readers and why the editor is the best person to craft the story.
- Lastly, remember to follow up on the pitch
NEWS ANGLES - What are news angles
News angles are news that captures an editor's interest. A story that is newsworthy must contain a strong angle and generate interest so journalist and editors will want to feature the coverage. Good story angles should tell how it affects the industry, community or organisation. In order to develop an interest to your organisation, it's important to know the right news angles that could capture the media's interest.
Here is some news angles that newspapers will want to pick up:
- Current
- Conflict
- Disaster
- Prominent Figure
- Sex & Scandal
- Local Interest / Relevance
- Breakthrough & Innovations
- Unique & Unusual
Below are some samples of news angles in the papers .
Local Interest/ Relevance
Wednesday July 21, 2010
IRB: Beware of fake e-mail on tax refund
KUALA LUMPUR: Taxpayers, beware - a fake e-mail, claimed to be sent by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), is making its rounds. "We have received numerous calls and email regarding the fake email, which claimed that overpaid income tax of RM700 would be refund to tax payers," the IRB said in a statement Wednesday. It added that the board did not send out any e-mail using the address Tax-Payment@hasil.gov.my
Source - http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/21/nation/20100721151812&sec=nation
New Development
Obama, Cameron to hold talks clouded by BP concerns
Washington (July 20,2010): U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron will hold talks on Tuesday overshadowed by controversy over BP Plc that could test the vaunted "special relationship" between their countries.
They are expected to discuss BP's role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and whether the British energy giant had an influence in the release of the Lockerbie bomber from a Scottish prison last year - issues that have complicated transatlantic ties.
Source - http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=49622
Progress
July 21, 2010 16:54 PM
WTO Agrees To Set Up Panel To Rule On US Clove Cigarette Ban: Indonesian Official
By: Ramjit
JAKARTA, July 21 (Bernama) -- The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has agreed to establish a panel to rule on Indonesia's complaint that a US ban on clove cigarettes aimed at preventing teenagers from starting to smoke was discriminatory, a government official says.
Source - http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=515325
For further information and to know more about the topic covered there are resourceful sites on the web. Find below some links attached for your reference.
Links:
Obama, Cameron to hold talks clouded by BP concerns
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