What the media wants, and how to give it to them

• What does the media want, and how can you give it to them?
• How do you develop good relationships with the media?
• What are some tips for preparing for a media interview?
• How do you deliver a media interview that hits the mark?
• How do you maximise media opportunities and get your message across to the community via the media?
• And how can the media help you sell more books?

My clients commonly ask me these questions. I worked in the media and then switched to the other side to set up my media-based PR business mp|media solutions, so I understand how the media works.

In more recent times, as a bestselling crime mystery author and ambassador for missing persons, I’ve been square and front on to media cameras and microphones where I put my clients all the time. The advantages are two-fold. I have an opportunity to speak about an issue I’m passionate about putting into the limelight – missing persons.

And I have an avenue to lead people to my books. I speak regularly with my media contacts about the latest in my author world, book releases and milestones I reach with my writing. I appear regularly in radio, television, print and online media because I know exactly what the media want. And I am pleased to say that because of this regular media presence I am continually picking up new readers which is ultimately leading to more book sales. Win win.

During my 20+ year career in the media industry there have been major changes – for example, I wrote my first newspaper articles on a typewriter and didn’t have a mobile phone until I was in my mid 20s – but many things have stayed the same.

Here are my top 3 tips for getting the media to pick up your story:

1. The most important thing to remember is “the media wants news” – new news, not old news.
2. They also want it quickly and they also want it delivered in a way that’s easy to understand and easy to translate. This can be a major challenge for people working in highly structured environments. There is a massive difference between a media release and a report. You can’t cut and paste from your report, put a heading at the top Media Release, and expect that the media will be interested.
3. The most common thing people forget when they’re writing a media release is to put the “story” at the top. By all means provide background, but don’t meander around the block and leave the most interesting and newsworthy part of your story at the end, otherwise it is highly likely to be overlooked.

• Watch my blog closely for more tips on dealing with the media, or pop into my media marketing company page mp|media solutions.