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Writing for the Media

Writing for the Media. Today’s Agenda. Media coverage Media relations Media Alerts Press Releases When you are the reporter Types of stories News Editorials Interviews Images. First, some basic ideas. Your message What are you trying to communicate? Why? What do you want to happen?

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Writing for the Media

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  1. Writing for the Media

  2. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations • Media Alerts • Press Releases • When you are the reporter • Types of stories • News • Editorials • Interviews • Images

  3. First, some basic ideas • Your message • What are you trying to communicate? • Why? What do you want to happen? • Audience • Who are you talking to? Why? • How do they like getting information? • Outlets (weeklies, dailies, blogs, radio, TV) • Each has its own format, audience, style • News • What is newsworthy? “Who cares?”

  4. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations: what outlets? contacts? • See: http://www.newslink.org • Media Alerts • Press Releases • When you are the reporter • Types of stories • News • Editorials • Interviews • Images

  5. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations • Media Alerts: please attend • Press Releases: please cover this news story • When you are the reporter • Types of stories • News • Editorials • Interviews • Images

  6. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations • Media Alerts • Press Releases • When you are the reporter: who are you writing for? • Types of stories – see the handout • News • Editorials • Interviews • Images

  7. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations • Media Alerts • Press Releases • When you are the reporter • Types of stories • News: writing the lead • Editorials • Interviews • Images

  8. The lead is the first sentence of the news story, with the most important information first. Usually, the first three Ws are in the first sentence. It’s OK to put the others in a second sentence. What? Where? When? Who? Why? How?

  9. What? Dog campWhere? Camp Farley, Mashpee, MAWhen? May 22-23, 2010Who? 4-H membersWhy? To learn dog knowledge and skillsHow? Attending overnight camp and daytime workshops with their dogs

  10. Sample lead:4-H Dog Camp brings 48 young people and their dogs to Camp Farley, Mashpee, MA, for two days each May where they learn about dog care, health, and training.

  11. Another approach:Kids go to camp with their dogs on May 22 for two days of overnights, demonstrations, workshops, and s’mores.

  12. 4-H Dog camp brings 48 young people and their dogs to Camp Farley, Mashpee, MA, for two days each May where they learn about dog care, health, and training. Then, add a paragraph for each:Broader information, context for understanding the story.Impact/consequencesOrganizational information and for more information(Look at the sample press release for some hints.)

  13. Editorials come in all shapes and sizes

  14. Interview questions • Don’t ask: • Do you like 4-H? • Ask: • What do you like about 4-H? • Don’t ask: • Do you have advice for 4-Hers? • Ask: • What advice do you have for 4-Hers?

  15. Interview questions • It’s OK to be creative… • What was the biggest mistake you’ve made? • What inspires you? • What is your ‘impossible dream’? • Prompt as needed: • Can you tell us more about that?

  16. Today’s Agenda • Media coverage • Media relations • Media Alerts • Press Releases • When you are the reporter • Types of stories • News • Editorials • Interviews • Images

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