Reporter Rapport

Feb23 2011

Sarah Findle

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the February Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) Luncheon featuring a presentation from Patrick Gannon, Raleigh Bureau Chief for the Wilmington Star News.

Patrick discussed the qualities (both good and bad!) he frequently sees from public relations professionals as well as practices that journalists like to see when it comes to media relations.

My top 5 takeaways:

1. Online content is a focus for most journalists these days.  End of day deadlines for print have evolved into early morning (before 11:00 a.m.) deadlines for online publication. Journalists want to get content online by noon to hit the lunchtime “rush hour” on news websites.
2. “We’re both storytellers with different audiences” - keep the journalist’s audience in mind when writing a release.  What would the headline look like the next day if you turned the pitch into a story?
3. Journalists want to get as close to the source as possible.  They don’t want to talk to the PR rep.  Make sure your clients are media trained so they can be available for direct quotes and comments.
4. When developing a relationship with a reporter send them a client/source list if you represent several clients with varying areas of expertise.  You never know when they may need a source for a story fast.
5. Take the time to find out the two or three key people who would be most likely to use your story.  If there are too many names on the e-mail, journalists may assume someone else in their department is on the story already and ignore it.

What are your best tips for keeping good rapport with reporters?

Social Media and Your Job Search

Feb16 2011

Sarah Findle

I had the privilege to present at Elon University’s Professional Discovery Week yesterday about the topic of using social media in your job search. My own job search story is a testament to the power of social media in the job search. My relationship, and eventual employment, with Howard Merrell & Partners started with a simple Direct Message to our former Social Media Marketing Manager, Kipp Bodnar:

In my presentation, I broke the process down into four key focus areas:

BRAND

• Establish your personal brand. Market yourself as you would a client or product. What is your message to potential employers?
• Make your Google search results relevant by creating social profiles, an online portfolio and a blog
• Transparency is key. Expect that anything you post online will be or could be public at some point. Keep your profiles open

FOLLOW

• Follow industry influencers and companies on Twitter and LinkedIn
• Read relevant blogs on a daily basis and become familiar with blogging styles and platforms
• Use hashtags to follow conversation at conferences, events and industry chats

FIND

• Use social media to search for job openings
• Follow job and career related blogs
• Look for blogs specific to your industry, or the geographic location where you are focusing your job search

ENGAGE

• Take the leap and join the conversation in your industry of interest
• Meet people in person who you have begun following online. See who is attending conferences or is located in your city

Click here for my full presentation and resource list.