Home
>
Public Relations
>
Put Yourself in the Reporters Shoes

Put Yourself in the Reporters Shoes

Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You learn that a new computer virus is making the rounds on the Net and you find that it has shut down three local banks within the past few hours. You're desperately searching for information on the virus, names and phone numbers of experts who can tell you about it, ways to prevent the virus from spreading, how to eradicate the virus and repair the damage to computers, and a spokesperson from at least one of the banks so you can get a quote for your article -- all before 5 PM so you can write the story that will appear on tomorrow's front page. Whew!

I'll bet you're feeling a bit frazzled and impatient. Where would you start?

Right. You'll look in your database for a local computer expert to help you understand the scope of the problem, the damage expected and how to fix it.

You call the first one. No answer. You don't have a cell phone number. So you call the next expert. She's not in her office but you call her cell phone and she answers. You get most of the information you need and several website references to look up the rest. This woman is a saint!

Now that you understand the problem, you call Bank #1, but you can't get through to anyone except the receptionist, and she's not helpful. You call Bank #2 and the president takes your call but says, "No comment." You secretly think she's an idiot and vow never to talk to her again.

You call Bank #3 and the marketing director is very helpful. He begins with, "How can I help you?" and then gives you a brief summary of the situation, offers to set up a meeting within the next few minutes with the president and the bank's IT director. "In the meantime," says Mr. Marketing Director, "please take a look at our website. Our Media Room is up-to-date. There you'll find bios and photos of our president, Mr. Boss, and our IT director, Mr. Whizkid. The photos are in various sizes, downloadable and suitable for printing. There's also a copy of our last annual report, information about our locations and number of employees, and much more that might be helpful to your story."

You go to the website. It's very easy to navigate and you find everything you need to complete your story. Now all you need are a couple of good quotes and you're done. The interview goes off without a hitch. Everyone is open and honest. You get great quotes.

Now you have all the information you need and finish the story in time to have a drink after work with your friends. You tell them about the terrific marketing director at Bank #3, saying, "I love that man."

Now step out of the reporter's shoes and think about your company. If you were really in this situation, you'd like to be Bank #3, wouldn't you? What does your Media Room look like? Do you have everything you need there? Is it easy to navigate? To find out what you should include, read "Does Your Media Room Rock?" here: http://ezinearticles.com/?make-sure-your-media-room-rocks&id=2045

Lois Carter Fay, APR, is a 30-year veteran in the P.R. and marketing field. She works with women business owners and small business owners to help them improve their businesses.

She now produces three marketing ezines, Brainy Tidbits, Brainy Flash, and Success Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs. All are free. Visit http://ezinearticles.com/?make-sure-your-media-room-rocks&id=2045 or http://ezinearticles.com/?make-sure-your-media-room-rocks&id=2045 to subscribe and claim your free special report.

limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.

Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.

An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.

There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.

A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.

Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.

Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.

The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.

Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.

Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.

Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.

Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.

Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.

A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.

Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.

To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.

Put Yourself in the Reporters Shoes

Public Relations