I just got off the phone with a woman who represents a couple of local companies. She was not friendly. Yet she was trying to persuade me to write a story. A story that had no tie to our coverage area and wasn’t all that interesting or important as far as I was concerned. Even if she was friendly, the story wouldn’t have interested me, but at least I might have considered it or tried to find a way it would apply to our audience.
But no, this woman didn’t think that way. From the way she behaved I surmised that she believed I owed her something. In her mind I owed her a story. On her boring client. And their uninteresting activities.
She calls me every time one of her clients so much as smiles. It’s silly. I mean do you really think that I’m going to write a story on the fact that Bob from accounting had lasagna instead of his usual roast beef for lunch? (On a side note isn’t it always Bob from accounting?) Also, she is rude when she pitches this idea and especially when I turn her down.
From a reporter perspective she’s a pest. I audibly groan when I hear that she is on hold for me. This is who you don’t want to be. Here are a few rules to follow to avoid being this woman.
- Always Be Friendly and Genuine
We can spot fake friendliness and journalists are already the skeptical type
- Follow with a Phone Call But Don’t Harass
Wait a day or two after you’ve sent in your materials. Then give a quick call to “see if they received it, see if you can answer any questions, and to see if they might be interested in writing a story.” Calling several times until you reach the person or calling before they even get a chance to look at your materials will just annoy.
- Remember That Not Everything You Pitch Will be Published
Don’t feel bad if your story idea gets turned down. There is only so much room for news and reporters have to be selective and they may select certain stories based on appeal, importance, or timeliness. Keep pitching or try another angle.
The most important thing is you’ve made a contact and if you play it right you can develop that contact into a rewarding relationship that can put you in favor next time the reporter needs a story idea. What are some experiences you’ve had with contacting the media?