Posted on: 24 October, 2003
Author: George McKenzie
There's a common ... that people in the ... have a giant network of sources where they getall their ... and they ... don't needhelp from "average ... not tru There's a common misconception that people in the newsbusiness have a giant network of sources where they getall their information, and they certainly don't needhelp from "average people."It's not true.News organizations are constantly looking for storyideas--from anywhere.And if you master the media marketing strategies below,your reputation as an "expert" among the media willabsolutely skyrocket--and so will the traffic-generating free publicity that results.***Offer "another angle" on a current story Supposeyou hear a something on a 6:00 PM TV newscast, and youbelieve you have the credentials to comment on it.Contact the newsroom, tell the assignment editor orproducer you can offer "another angle" on the story. Besure to say something like, "I think a lot of yourviewers will find it interesting (surprising, shocking,etc) that..." and then explain your idea.***Offer yourself as a guest on shows that have to filla lot of airtime. Check out local TV programs to seewho's already doing a lot of guest interviews. Usuallythese tend to be "soft" news shows in the early or midmorning, especially on weekends. Get creative andfigure out how to package what you know in a way that'sinteresting to a mass audience. Then construct a newsrelease to send to the appropriate person on the showyou have in mind.***Polls & Surveys First there was The Book Of Lists.Then David Letterman made his nightly "Top Ten" polls acultural icon. People love them, and in this age ofemail, anyone can put together a quickie poll andpublish a list.***Tip Sheets Great fillers on slow news days. Makesure theyre not dated, then package them in anattention getting news release--one that positions youas a qualified expert to add some insights the subjectmatter.***Ask to be added to the "Expert's Directory." Everynewsroom has a book or file they reach for when theyneed find someone who offer insights on what'shappening.It's usually nothing more than a computer database oreven a paper file. and to get in, all you generallyhave to do is ask-- AND send a media kit that with abio and contact information. SHORT and RELEVANT are thekey words here.Taking a few minutes to do these things can result inrepeated opportunities for free publicity. And becauseof the "halo effect" you get from being interviewed bythe media, it's the kind of traffic-generatingpublicity that's more powerful and profitable thananything money can buy. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com