How News Coverage Has Changed

How are you getting your news?

If you're reading just one newspaper or looking at one news website or watching only one cable channel or local station for your news diet, you may be news malnourished. Here are reasons to get your news from multiple sources:

1. To be interesting - variety is the spice of life. If you and your friends all read the same stories or listen to one radio station, your conversations could become dull.

2. To understand the other side. Zig Ziglar said he read the Bible and the newspaper every day, so he'd know what the devil was up to. It's great to have an opinion, but you'll sound smarter if you know what your opposition is saying.

3. To be innovative - if we all get our news from the same sources, we will have group-think. At most jobs, original ideas and creative input are valued. If you're a CEO, you must have fresh eyes. Get news from trade journals, social media, alternative sites, newspapers from a different state, and you will learn.

As a journalist, I know that there is so much more news going on that does not get into one newspaper or one newscast. Local news has become a headline service: some producers are required to have 20 or more stories in a half-hour newscast. This means about 12 to 15 seconds per story. If you want to go in-depth, you have to go beyond the headlines.

A Happy Meeting Partner

When your client is happy, it makes you happy, too. One reason the following letter sent after a presentation last month means so much to me is that David had been part of a media training workshop ten years ago, and he remembered me, as mentioned below.


Lorri,
I'm not just saying it to be nice -- you did a fabulous job! You brought a lot of value, entertained the audience, and they all left with great information and action items. I also appreciate the generous way you shared the stage and worked with Jim Hinshaw. You guys crafted a wonderful presentation! BTW, the editor in chief of Contracting Business Magazine was in the audience and he said you did a great job too.

I think I told you this, but in case I didn't... Years ago when we were all at PRIMEDIA you did a Media Training seminar for all of the managers. I thought it was great. You gave us terrific techniques and the right way to think about working with the media. So when we were talking about this event, and the idea of teaching about the media, you were the first person to come to mind. I told everyone that you were THE person to do it. You didn't let me down; it was great.

I hope we have another opportunity to work with you.

Thanks!
--David

When Speaking in Soundbites Isn't the Best

The Right to Bare Arms

Avoiding Stings

Press Releases Still Have Value

As you can see by the post just below this one, I think organizations that take great steps to help others deserve positive press coverage. Here's a new business giving FORTY PERCENT of profits to charity. 

I also recommend you still write press releases. News outlets still read them, but there's more value to you beyond that. Put them on your blog or your website and link to them on all your other social media. Plus, when reporters go to check you out, they will research your company through your archived releases. This is a simple press release, but includes the important elements: contact information, location, website and compelling quotes.

For Immediate Release                                                                                     

Contact: Christine Ellis, 602-xxx-xxxx   www.StepInShoes.com

NEW MESA UPSCALE SHOE STORE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHARITIES

Forty percent of profits will go to help Haiti and homeless in Phoenix

Ribbon Cutting and grand opening of Step-In Women’s Designer Shoes Thursday, June 21, 10:30 a.m. at 2665 E. Broadway Road, Suite B108, Mesa

Mesa, AZ (June 16, 2012)—Sisters Christine Ellis and Shella Michel were looking for a way to get free shoes for the homeless they feed Sunday mornings in downtown Phoenix and asked former professional athlete David Jones for help.

            “When he showed us what the markup was for designer shoes, my sister asked, ‘Why not open a shoe store?’” said Ellis.

            Now, Step-In Women’s Designer Shoes celebrates its opening in Mesa. Ellis began the Bridge Ministry of feeding homeless people each week in 2006. Michel joined her and now they feed up to 500 at a time. When the devastating earthquake struck their native Haiti in 2010, the two began the Haitian Disaster Relief Center, which has established an orphanage caring for more than 40 children on the island.

            “When a woman purchases a pair of shoes from us, she will literally be feeding someone from Haiti or someone homeless,” said Michel.

            Most shoes in the store will sell for $19.99 or less.

            The store’s motto is “Look good to do good.”

            Real Estate Investor Michael A. Pollack helped the team get started by offering four months’ of the retail space at no cost.

            “We did it because they are giving back to the community in such a big way,” Pollack said. “I think it would be wonderful if more businesses did that.”

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