Posted in Maritime PR
Part 1: Securing the interview
Meeting the press is an essential and valuable part of any PR and communications campaign. However, editors are busy people and encounters may well be very short, especially if taking place at events where schedules are full. Having the knowledge and tools to be clear and confident with the press and your messaging will ensure you get the best out of each interview opportunity.
1 – Decide which media are key and best match your themes, in terms of content relevance, audience and credibility in the industry
2 – Be informative when inviting them; why is what you have to say of interest, how is it relevant to their readership or forthcoming editorial features, and will it update previous coverage they have given to this subject?
3 – Ensure you are inviting the right people on your side and inform the journalist accordingly; consider how technical or commercial the journalist/publication is. Advise names and job titles of those who will be attending in order to assure journalists that you will be covering their individual requirements.
4 – Be flexible and courteous; members of the press are influential, and early encounters are often the first step in embarking on an ongoing dialogue of mutual trust
5 – Don’t get disheartened if the journalist declines; follow up by sending press material and make a point of building a relationship
Once you have secured the interviews, it’s time to prepare. Check back next week for Part 2: Best practice tips on how to get the most out of your press interviews.
Alternatively, drop me a line if you’d like to find out how JLA Media can be of assistance with your maritime press relations.