Media Interviews: when should you invite the media?
Media interviews are great opportunities to showcase your brand and become an expert commentator in your industry. However, what might be a big event for you and your organisation may not necessarily be considered ‘newsworthy’ by a journalist.
The rule of PR and the first question you should always ask yourself: “when should I invite the media?”.
Without a corporate communications team to advise you or a public relations agency on retainer, how do you know if you have a media story that is just waiting to be told?
Our public relations team at Adoni Media have decades of experience working in newsrooms and so we’ve put together a guide on what makes news.
A launch or an opening
As a general rule, anything new is news. So, if you have the opening of a new facility, a new service, or the launch of a new initiative you may have a story that will get the media’s attention.
A key question from journalists will always be how many people will benefit or be impacted by the new project.
Also, take into consideration the location and if anyone interesting will be attending for the media to interview.
A VIP visit
A VIP visit is always worth inviting the media too. However, it is important to be able to explain or justify why your VIP is actually a VIP and what their role is at the event.
A VIP or celebrity can be a great drawcard to generate interest in a story that may otherwise not garner any media interest.
A major interview opportunity
If you are offering a spokesperson in response to a breaking news story or a major announcement, scandal, or a big event it is worthwhile issuing a Media Alert and inviting journalists.
If the story is big enough and likely to attract several journalists, or you are already fielding calls from the media, it is worth organising a press conference so that the spokesperson addresses the media contingent at one time in one set place.
Human interest story
Journalists love a feel-good story and if you or your company, charity or organisation has a story that everyone is talking about in your local community then it is a good bet that a journalist may be interested.
Need help organising your next media interview? The team at Adoni are media experts who know how and when to invite the media no matter what the occasion. Contact us for a consultation on your media needs.
