The Art of Media Relations

Several years ago, when I got my client’s story covered in a leading English news daily, I called back the business editor and said, “Thank you.” He responded, “I am happy that you called me back after seeing the coverage. Not everyone does it.” That day, I realized that there’s a lot more when it comes to media relations than having a great story published.

Media relations is the top, top priority for PR. Why? “Your client is looking for coverage in the media. So, you need to have a good rapport with them.” It is that simple. Building positive relationships with journalists, publications, and other news outlets is the key.

It is an age-old art of building a long-term relationship with the media. It is your connection with the relevant media in your market for your clients. It can be local, regional or global.?

Media relations requires a clear strategy. You need to pitch with purpose and patience. How to do that? In pitching a story, the PR expert needs to know what the client’s message is. It is more important what to say and how to say it.

Pitch with the right journalist with the right message keeping their audience in mind. To achieve it, spend time reading, listening, and watching more. Feed them with relevant messages.

This process typically includes distributing press releases, organizing press conferences and media roundtables, and scheduling interviews on behalf of clients. Media relations helps businesses, leaders, products, and solutions to gain exposure in the marketplace. It also encourages the media to market your brand for free.

Your media relations could mean that you share that message with print media, through television shows and radio shows, on industry forums, specific news websites, and through vlogs and videos from influencers.