I’ve been working in and speaking about media relations for over 20 years. In an age of social media and digital communications I’m often asked if media relations still makes a difference. The short answer is YES!! When I started my career as a newspaper editor, the local paper didn’t just deliver news but also connected the community. The stories…

Last week I was on national television promoting my new book. It was exciting, nerve wracking and extremely rewarding. Despite having done countless media interviews, I still take the time to go through the steps on how to prepare for a television interview. And trust me, this preparation is key to nailing a television interview you are proud of and…

If you’re a media spokesperson does this sound familiar? Staff – Hey a reporter called to talk to you. You – Great. Who was it? Staff – She said her name was Bonnie. You – From what media outlet? What did she want? Staff – No idea. She just left her name and number. Here you go. You – Sigh….

The most common way of sharing information with the media is through a press release. The problem? Most press releases are a dumping of facts with no story to tell. I know I’ve written about this before, but sometimes a video helps bring the message home. Check out this short video on how to write a press release the media…

The simple and easy to use communications plan is my absolute favorite tool and has saved my skin more than once. Especially when I’m juggling multiple projects with different deadlines. It is the number one way to get organized, and keep others accountable and on track. If you don’t know what a communications plan is, or you aren’t using them…

In my previous blog post I wrote about how to write a press release. Now that you’ve created a press release the media will actually read, the next challenge is how to pitch to the media. The first step is figuring out the media outlets that would be most interested in your story. Yes, you can send it to all…