Adam Dawes’ Post

Whenever a piece is published for a client or company, PR pro's immediately read every word and sentence multiple times. On occasion, the journalist has misunderstood features/purpose of a new product, didn't read the press release in great detail, what an executive was actually saying and or just jump to conclusions. Sometimes even the headline is negative and your client/company is immediately unhappy. This scenario can be very challenging and it must be met with empathy, respect and overall professional decorum. Remember, reporters are human and they make mistakes (like we all do) and/or have their own opinions on particular subjects. They will not change a headline simply because it's not flattering or change an attributed quote to include all of your core messaging. However, they will consider changes that are based on facts and not opinions or spin. I really like this article from Allison Carter at Ragan Communications and PR Daily on best practices for requesting a correction and how to manage an executive or clients expectations when this type of issue arises. #publicrealtions #corporatecommunications #journalism #relationships #articles #content #mediarelations #mediacoverage #thoughtleadership #pressreleases #announcements https://lnkd.in/g-7b95gS

📰 If you don't have a PR company between you and the media, it can be nerve-wracking when a newspaper (hard copy or digital) journalist contacts you with questions about a topic – and you want the coverage. Here are my top 7 tips on how to proceed: 1. Ask for the questions via email – this will help you to see what kind of angle they're taking. 2. Reply via email – in at least three or four sentences per answer. They don't want an essay on one hand, but on the other, they need quotes that are substantial enough to use. 3. If you don't know, or can't answer, say so: "Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to share those details at the moment," or "This question falls outside of the scope of my expertise." 4. Don't write the article for them! Because they don't want you to, and you're probably not the only person being quoted. Just answer the questions. This is where providing written answers can help offer some sort of protection if you're worried about being misquoted. 5. Ask if you can review your quotes before the piece goes into production – but remember that they don't have to show it to you. You don't get to approve unpaid editorial coverage. 6. Remember that unless you're embroiled in something scandalous, these requests – most often – are requests for information and insight. Journalists are not experts in your field; their job is to report on various fields. So they rely on solid expertise from people who do know what they're talking about. It's usually a benevolent exchange of information to service their readers – and which will position you as an expert in their readers' minds. 7. Most importantly, don't take weeks to reply – most journalists work on very tight deadlines. A good turnaround time is 24 hours – TOPS!

🚨 HOW TO BE A GREAT PR, ACCORDING TO A JOURNALIST 🚨 It's Friday and I'd like to give some love to PRs by highlighting some of the best things they have done for me as a journalist over the years. Here is how the best PRs work and tips you can replicate! 1. They respect a deadline. The best PRs I work with understand that a deadline is a deadline for a reason. They don't bullshit and tell me they can deliver a comment, picture etc to my deadline unless it's true. 2. The best PRs read the news just as much as journalists do. They know what the top stories of the day are, which headlines are grabbing people's attention and how to leverage these stories. Example: a new health report hits in the morning (say 7am) about how the measles is sky-rocketing in the UK. By 8am, the best PRs have pitched me expert comment, more research or the golden ticket: a case study. 3. They chop the fluff. If a client is feeding them dry dry dry copy, a good PR will push when journos give feedback. They will get me the juicy quotes I need to make my copy sing. I used to be a PR for 10 years. I know what clients are like but gentle guidance is key! 4. A great PR gives me what I need before I have to ask. Example: The Who, What, When, Where, How is in the press release. High res pics are attached or in a WeTransfer/other, the pic credit is outline, they clarify if client is around for further comment etc etc. 5. They are not afraid to pick up the phone if REALLY needed but will NOT hassle me with calls. So often, junior team members are left to deal with the first round of pitching but sadly, they are often woefully unprepared. A great PR will train their team on phone manner. 6. Speaking of the phone, a great PR makes themselves available. If your signature doesn't have a phone number in it, add one. Today. 7. A good PR adapts to their journalist contacts. You can't please everyone but you probably have a roster of great journos who you work with regularly, right? Learn their habits. How they like to be pitched and what time. What makes them, their editors and publication tick. 8. The absolutely best PRs understand that a no is a no. I don't always have time to explain why it's a no – just take it on the chin, move on and pitch me something else tomorrow. 9. Final one! A great PR understands that I am not their friend or bestie just because I ran their story. Nor am I your 'hun, lovely, sweetie'. That type of chatty relationship can absolutely develop over time (one of my close friends is a PR who used to pitch me stories, that's how we met) but if it's the first time we're exchanging messages, respect my job just as I respect yours. We are not pals until we have had a shot of tequila together...

🚨 HOW TO BE A GREAT PR, ACCORDING TO A JOURNALIST 🚨 It's Friday and I'd like to give some love to PRs by highlighting some of the best things they have done for me as a journalist over the years. Here is how the best PRs work and tips you can replicate! 1. They respect a deadline. The best PRs I work with understand that a deadline is a deadline for a reason. They don't bullshit and tell me they can deliver a comment, picture etc to my deadline unless it's true. 2. The best PRs read the news just as much as journalists do. They know what the top stories of the day are, which headlines are grabbing people's attention and how to leverage these stories. Example: a new health report hits in the morning (say 7am) about how the measles is sky-rocketing in the UK. By 8am, the best PRs have pitched me expert comment, more research or the golden ticket: a case study. 3. They chop the fluff. If a client is feeding them dry dry dry copy, a good PR will push when journos give feedback. They will get me the juicy quotes I need to make my copy sing. I used to be a PR for 10 years. I know what clients are like but gentle guidance is key! 4. A great PR gives me what I need before I have to ask. Example: The Who, What, When, Where, How is in the press release. High res pics are attached or in a WeTransfer/other, the pic credit is outline, they clarify if client is around for further comment etc etc. 5. They are not afraid to pick up the phone if REALLY needed but will NOT hassle me with calls. So often, junior team members are left to deal with the first round of pitching but sadly, they are often woefully unprepared. A great PR will train their team on phone manner. 6. Speaking of the phone, a great PR makes themselves available. If your signature doesn't have a phone number in it, add one. Today. 7. A good PR adapts to their journalist contacts. You can't please everyone but you probably have a roster of great journos who you work with regularly, right? Learn their habits. How they like to be pitched and what time. What makes them, their editors and publication tick. 8. The absolutely best PRs understand that a no is a no. I don't always have time to explain why it's a no – just take it on the chin, move on and pitch me something else tomorrow. 9. Final one! A great PR understands that I am not their friend or bestie just because I ran their story. Nor am I your 'hun, lovely, sweetie'. That type of chatty relationship can absolutely develop over time (one of my close friends is a PR who used to pitch me stories, that's how we met) but if it's the first time we're exchanging messages, respect my job just as I respect yours. We are not pals until we have had a shot of tequila together...

🚨 HOW TO BE A GREAT PR, ACCORDING TO A JOURNALIST 🚨 It's Friday and I'd like to give some love to PRs by highlighting some of the best things they have done for me as a journalist over the years. Here is how the best PRs work and tips you can replicate! 1. They respect a deadline. The best PRs I work with understand that a deadline is a deadline for a reason. They don't bullshit and tell me they can deliver a comment, picture etc to my deadline unless it's true. 2. The best PRs read the news just as much as journalists do. They know what the top stories of the day are, which headlines are grabbing people's attention and how to leverage these stories. Example: a new health report hits in the morning (say 7am) about how the measles is sky-rocketing in the UK. By 8am, the best PRs have pitched me expert comment, more research or the golden ticket: a case study. 3. They chop the fluff. If a client is feeding them dry dry dry copy, a good PR will push when journos give feedback. They will get me the juicy quotes I need to make my copy sing. I used to be a PR for 10 years. I know what clients are like but gentle guidance is key! 4. A great PR gives me what I need before I have to ask. Example: The Who, What, When, Where, How is in the press release. High res pics are attached or in a WeTransfer/other, the pic credit is outline, they clarify if client is around for further comment etc etc. 5. They are not afraid to pick up the phone if REALLY needed but will NOT hassle me with calls. So often, junior team members are left to deal with the first round of pitching but sadly, they are often woefully unprepared. A great PR will train their team on phone manner. 6. Speaking of the phone, a great PR makes themselves available. If your signature doesn't have a phone number in it, add one. Today. 7. A good PR adapts to their journalist contacts. You can't please everyone but you probably have a roster of great journos who you work with regularly, right? Learn their habits. How they like to be pitched and what time. What makes them, their editors and publication tick. 8. The absolutely best PRs understand that a no is a no. I don't always have time to explain why it's a no – just take it on the chin, move on and pitch me something else tomorrow. 9. Final one! A great PR understands that I am not their friend or bestie just because I ran their story. Nor am I your 'hun, lovely, sweetie'. That type of chatty relationship can absolutely develop over time (one of my close friends is a PR who used to pitch me stories, that's how we met) but if it's the first time we're exchanging messages, respect my job just as I respect yours. We are not pals until we have had a shot of tequila together...