Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Winner’s Circle” newsletter focusing on publicity, marketing and social Media insights. Today, we’re focusing on a crucial aspect of public relations and marketing—how to become a journalist’s go-to source and get quoted in the press.
If you aim to see your name or your business featured in the press, it’s crucial to understand how to become a go-to source for journalists. As publicists, we aim to pull the entire package together for our clients, so the expertise is obvious and desired by media. Here are some essential points to achieving media magnet status:
The most important element of becoming a journalists’ go-to source is…
Do It for Them:
In today’s fast-paced news environment, journalists are often overworked, and newsrooms are understaffed. By offering sources, both expert and real people, you can alleviate some of their burden and increase your chances of getting quoted.
Top Tips:
1. Aid Journalists with their job:
In the hurried news world, journalists are stressed and working on tight deadlines. By being a reliable source, you can help alleviate their workload and enhance your chances of getting quoted. No one wants to discover, research, or figure you out. You must be presented as the obvious choice.
2. What Journalists Need:
The “4 Cs” Journalists Look For: Content, Clarity, Convenience, and Credentials. These are the key factors that determine if you, as a source, gets chosen.
3. Determining Journalists’ Needs:
Watch their work, make sure you are a match as a source, pitch quickly, and anticipate their needs. Utilize tech tools to track their work, delivery a fully developed press kit with easy access to all support materials, data, and visuals for incorporation into their stories.
All submitted quotes must show a strong viewpoint, be easy to read, and offer clear support to the journalists’ story.
4. Be Innovative, Not Same Old Cookie Cutter:
Create unique trends or topics that haven’t been considered before. This gives you, as a source, top priority. Make sure your visuals dazzle and delight. Whenever possible, be entertaining. Entertaining and educational generally win attention.
Our goal is to provide dependable sources to build a robust reputation with journalists. This, in essence, is a trusted work relationship amongst colleagues, which is what we do here at Black Ink PR.
Becoming a reliable source for journalists requires understanding their needs, creative storytelling, understanding the news cycle, and strategic positioning. Delivering value and timely information will strengthen your reputation as a trusted resource. And nothing declares authority in your field quite like being a trusted media source quoted in the press.
Stay ahead of the curve and make yourself indispensable to the media. With these strategies, and a little PR muscle, you can become the trusted source that journalists turn to.
If you want press coverage for yourself or your business, contact us today. Let’s make headlines together!
Thank you for being a part of our community. Here’s to your success.
Dazzle and delight,
Margot Black
