Five Media Relations Tips for New Professionals

June 16, 2014January 2, 2015Lauren Gray 1 Comment

Media-relations Working with the media is a huge part of any PR career.

It takes some time to build relationships with reporters and producers, and new professionals may feel intimidated at first. I recently worked on a PR campaign to launch a new retail store in Dallas and had the chance to sharpen my media relations skills.

Based on my experience, here are five tips that can help new professionals work effectively with the media.

Do your research before pitching

Before you contact any reporter, browse their latest stories. Do their stories fit your pitch? If so, customize your email to fit the reporter’s needs, or your message may be ignored. Many reporters and producers receive hundreds of pitches each day, so remember to draft a short email that’s meaningful to them.

Become a resource for the media

Acting as a resource for the media is essential in building new relationships. Feed journalists your clients’ news in a bite-sized yet impactful way. Members of the media want to read news that’s easy to digest. You know you’ve done your job when they come to you looking for more news and additional help!

Offer an exclusive story

If getting into a particular publication is important to your client and in their best interests, offer the writer of the publication an exclusive story. By giving the publication first dibs on the news, it may result in a placement with a unique angle.

Remember to follow up

Sending a follow-up message to the media is a common practice in the PR industry. To follow up effectively, send a brief email and give the journalist a call. If they pick up, keep the conversation very short. Reporters are busy and don’t always have time for small talk. What helps me is having a few notes in front of me as I’m on the phone. Take a deep breath, cut to the chase and don’t forget to smile!

Thank the reporter for his or her coverage

A simple thank you goes a long way and helps strengthen your bond with journalists. If you secure a new media placement, send an email or thank-you card to acknowledge the journalist’s work.

Nelli Tokleh is an assistant account executive at Nunez PR Group in Dallas. She received her undergraduate degree in public relations from the University of North Texas and her Master’s in Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University. Nelli is an active board member at PRSA Dallas and enjoys traveling, shopping and blogging about fashion and food. Connect with her on Twitter.

Why You Need a Mentor

June 12, 2014January 2, 2015Jess Noonan Leave a comment

We have always been told that mentoring is important. As new professionals, it is critical that we find “that” person just as our careers are embarking. I was lucky enough to have mentors fit into my life as a student — admittedly, without much effort on my part. Yet, no one really sat me down to explain the true benefits derived from being a mentee.

While there is no formula to “get” a mentor, here are some reasons why you should consider having one:

It’s someone to ask those questions.

“How do you write a cover letter?” “Should I format my resume this way?” “What do I need to do to advance in the agency?”

A mentor is there so you can ask questions. At your job, you may not want to ask your supervisor something, and it may be easier to broach the subject with your mentor. From the student perspective, your mentor has certainly been through the ringer applying for internships and can serve as a resource once you receive that first email about a phone interview.

A mentor of mine, who at the time was an upperclassman at college, was always happy to help answer my questions. Looking back, I know I would not have been as successful applying for internships, and later jobs, if it were not for her help.

Mentors usually have similar interests.

But it’s not the end of the world if they don’t. In fact, it works to your advantage to get an additional perspective outside your normal course of work. If you work in healthcare PR, find a mentor who works in food, politics, etc.

On the other hand, a mentor who works in a similar job (or even above you in your company or agency) is also going to be a big help. They will tell you how to advance because they have already made it through.

It goes both ways.

As great as having a mentor is for the mentee, the advice you can give your mentor may even be more rewarding. That’s why many large corporations and agencies have instituted reverse mentoring programs. Keep in mind that this is across all business functions, not just communications. It illustrates how companies can be on the cutting edge by empowering new professionals and newly minted graduates to share their native skills (e.g., social, apps, data, etc.) with older (er, more seasoned) colleagues.

Don’t know how to get started? Begin with the PRSA College of Fellows Mentoring Program here. You can get paired up with elite PR professionals. For more information on the program, check out this page.

Mike DeFilippis is an Assistant Project Manager at Direct Impact, a wholly owned subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller and a member of the WPP family that specializes in grassroots mobilization and outreach. He is fiercely passionate about public affairs, politics, government, public relations and technology. You can find him with a cup of coffee (or espresso) in hand while listening to country music.

June Twitter Chat Highlights: Personal Branding: Beyond the Resume

June 9, 2014Lauren Gray 3 Comments

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the June 2014 Twitter chat as we discussed strategies for personal branding in a digital world and ways to succeed in developing an authentic, professional and personal brand.

Specifically, we’d like to thank Matt Prince, Social Media Manager for The Walt Disney Company. Matt is the president of the PRSA Orange County Chapter and Professional Adviser to the Robert E. Rayfield Chapter of the PRSSA at California State University, Fullerton.

Join us again on July 3 for our next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the June chat? How can you encompass a professional and personable brand?

Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Three Ways to Stay Informed in a Busy PR World

June 5, 2014January 2, 2015Jess Noonan 1 Comment

Pitch targeted media. Handle company crises. Prepare media materials. Tweet, post, pin – then do it all again. Side note: You’re on deadline. Side, side note: The company’s reputation is in your (probably trembling) hands.

Ahh, a day in the life of a PR pro. And, on top of those responsibilities – and many more – you must find time to keep up with the latest trends and news about, well, everything.

Yeah, I guess that whole “PR executive is a top five most stressful job” is true after all. But it doesn’t have to be.

With the right mix of media – and some high-quality multitasking – you’ll be consistently on top of your game. It took me upwards of two years to perfect my “mix,” but I think I’m finally getting somewhere in the busy world of PR. Here’s how:

Email newsletters: If it’s in your inbox, it’s more likely to be read. That’s why I love my email newsletters. One note of caution, though: Don’t sign up for too many newsletters. You’ll end up overwhelmed, deleting them all before reading. (As someone who loves a clean inbox, I initially drove myself crazy).

But now I’ve narrowed it down to three newsletters. And yes – I read them all:

The New York Times features a comprehensive news-of-the-day overview with top headlines from all sections and short excerpts.
Social Media Examiner sends social updates as they happen along with tips for using the latest tools.
PRSA Issues & Trends compiles all the PR industry news you need in one place.

Aggregated news sites: With all the news sources around us, we could spend eight or more hours a day just reading. But with a full-time (ahem, top five most stressful) PR job, who has time for that?

No one. That’s why I love these aggregated news sites.

Alltop Social Media displays top headlines from hundreds of social and PR news sites.
Circa is an app that combines popular news headlines for on-the-go reading. I especially like to scroll through this in the morning before I start my day.
Facebook Trends turned out to be more helpful than I initially expected. It’s quick, comprehensive and features the most talked about news – from pop culture to politics – in one place.

Podcasts: If you’re like most new pros, you have several mundane – yet still important – tasks on your to-do list. Why not get some additional education during those tasks with a good podcast in the background? Here are my recommendations.

Inside PR features notable PR pros discussing the latest industry trends.
Brave Ad World gives a quick look at the changing social and digital media world.
NPR is probably a given – it has hundreds of podcasts to choose from based on your interest areas. If you can’t decide, try the Shuffle podcast. It randomly chooses the content for you.

Since our digital world is constantly evolving, this resource list is nowhere near complete. As new PR pros, we should always be on the lookout for the latest time-saving tools. But remember: These resources can only get you so far. It’s your job to use them for information gathering regularly.

How do you stay updated on breaking news and industry trends? Share your tips and tricks for new pros below.

Stephanie Vermillion is an account executive at Wordsworth Communications, a public relations agency in Cincinnati. She is on the PRSA Cincinnati Leadership Team and is part of the PRSA Cincinnati New Pros Committee. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn and Twitter (@SMVermillion).

Diversity and New Pros: Asian-Pacific Americans in Public Relations

June 2, 2014Lauren Gray Leave a comment

The following post is part of the ongoing series on The Edge, dealing with diversity and new professionals. This post is in honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month from May.

In my experience, I haven’t seen many Asian-Americans in the public relations field.

In the past four jobs I’ve had, there has only been one other Asian-American (other than myself) in two of the four companies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 7.3 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans held roles in the combined fields of marketing / advertising / PR in 2011. It is slowly on the rise, but we definitely still have a long way to go.

It can be difficult working in a field dominated by other races, but it is all about how you make the most of your experience. You may feel isolated at times, but my advice is to be proactive.

PRSA is a great resource. Last year, they established an initiative aimed at attracting ethnically-diverse young people to the PR profession. This program will include a video series, student guide, mentoring program and an Ask an Expert series. It is important to reach out to college students to start the recruitment process early, but it is equally important to see an increase of diversity at the top. This program sounds like it will touch individuals on both ends.

Other groups like the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) are great if you’re looking for an Asian-specific professional group. NAAAP also has local chapters where you can attend events and network with people in your area. This organization is dedicated to developing and advancing the careers of Asian leaders.

A lot of Asians immigrate to the United States in pursuit of the “American Dream” and I believe that’s what my parents did. To give me the opportunity that I otherwise would never have. I’m grateful for that every day. When I see an increase of Asians in mainstream media (Fresh Off The Boat – I’m really excited for this!, Korean Food Made Simple – I’m hoping to try some of Judy’s recipes and let’s not forget #LINSANITY!), I am hopeful. One day, we will no longer be the minority.

Leah Moon is a 2008 graduate of Ohio University. She served as the National Chair of the New Professionals Section in 2012 and on the Board of the Dayton Chapter for the past two years. She is the Social Media Coordinator at Ashley Furniture in Florida. Follow Leah on Twitter @starmoon or email her at moon.leah@gmail.com.