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Media conferences: Use them strategically and be prepared

February 27, 2012 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Holding a media conference immediately sounds cools. And, hey, it seems so simple. Announce a date, time and invite the media. But I’ve attended many poorly staged events over the years, and listened to countless reporters return to the newsroom and describe a particular media conference as a big waste of time.

Before you ever begin to schedule a media conference you need to consider the pros and cons. Is a media conference right for your announcement / event and your organization? Today’s podcast takes a closer look at what you need to consider BEFORE you move forward.

Podcast: Download

Understanding the differences between small and large market reporters

February 22, 2012 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

There are a ton of differences between reporters in small and large markets. Here are the nuts-and-bolts quickie differences:

4 steps to take before a reporter calls you

December 15, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Every organization and business needs a plan to handle media phone calls. These are the procedures you have in place to ensure only the appropriate people are commenting, and that such discussions are controlled at your end to the best extent possible, not vice versa.

Media can put your organization before a large audience. You want to handle such opportunities efficiently and professionally.
Here are four key points:

Media relations: Why you must think like a reporter and editor

November 28, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Reporters and editors always filter items before considering whether or not they are newsworthy. Just because you think something is newsworthy, it doesn’t mean media will think the same.

To achieve better results with media, it is essential that you learn to think like a journalist and editor.

Here are some key considerations:

5 ways to tick off a reporter right from the get-go

November 15, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Planning to telephone a reporter? Here are 5 opening lines to avoid (unless your plan is to be like a pit bull from the beginning!):

1. It must’ve been a slow news day! This one really raises the hairs on any reporter’s neck. There are very few “slow” news days. Most reporters or editors put potential stories through a vigorous analysis before they are tackled. If anything, dramatic staff cutbacks are seriously impacting how much a newsroom can cover on any one day.

Media relations guide: Why your organization needs one ASAP

October 16, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

It’s a common pitfall made by many organizations and businesses. What is it? It’s having no media relations guide. Instead, dealing with media is left to a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. That’s risky. Especially, when your organization’s reputation is on the line every time a media outlet reports on it.

A media relations guide, customized to your organization, is an essential marketing tool. It becomes your template for all future dealings with media. It will also arm you with tactics and strategies to maximize opportunities to promote your organization or business and manage your reputation and public profile.

4 reasons your organization needs a media relations guide:

Gregg McLachlan Q&A featured on international media site

September 28, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Gregg McLachlan, a former journalist and media manager who led a small market daily newspaper to groundbreaking, award-winning national success in Canada against much larger urban competitors, is featured in a Q&A with the International Journalists Network. The feature post taps Gregg’s expertise on small market media and how these outlets and their staff can achieve success.

Read the Q&A by clicking here.

IJNet.org is the premier global website for journalists and media managers to learn about training and networking opportunities. Its weekly e-mail bulletin reports on the latest innovations, resources and awards. IJNet publishes in Arabic, Chinese, English, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Users come from more than 185 countries. IJNet is produced by the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C.

Filed Under: Media training Tagged With: being a reporter in a small market, being a reporter in a small town, brantford expositor, journalism training in Canada, journalism training in ontario canada, media relations, media tips, simcoe reformer, small market journalism, Woodstock Sentinel-Review

5 insanely simple tips to make sure your media release headlines don’t suck

September 19, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Seen any really bad headlines lately in media releases? Oh boy, some are awful. Excruciatingly awful. You can have the best copy in a media release, but if the headline sucks, well, your entire effort is going nowhere fast. Headlines are the enticement or obstacle for getting more of the story to your audience.

In the media business, press releases get thrown in the blue box faster than you can say “Read me, please!” You have 10 seconds or less to grab attention. Your headline either wins you attention, or fails you big time.

Here’s a five-point checklist for creating headlines that make your audience WANT to read the copy beneath!

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Filed Under: Media training, Writing Tagged With: bad media releases, best practices for media release headlines, writing a media release, writing a press release

Media relations: How to reduce having words put in your mouth

September 5, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Have you ever read a story after being interviewed and thought, “Hey, I never meant that!” Or, “that reporter put words in my mouth!” One of the biggest sources of corrections and/or clarifications by media comes as a result of sloppy reporting via paraphrasing. This is often where people feel their thoughts have been inaccurately reported. Reporters create paraphrasing after reviewing their notes, and by recalling conversations with you at the time.

Media relations: Slam a reporter at your own peril

August 27, 2011 By Gregg McLachlan Leave a Comment

Lashing out publicly at a reporter or media outlet is something that happens every day. Politicians do it. Organization leaders do it. Business people do it. Sports team officials do it. And it gets them nowhere. You will lose.

Reporters go about their work believing in their mission: to report for the public’s right to know. Sometimes, for example, politicians don’t agree with a story. Most times, reporters have an inkling about whom will not be happy about a particular news story. But it’s not going to change how a professional journalist reports on an event or story.

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Filed Under: Media training Tagged With: getting angry at reporters, media relations