How can PR pros make a reporter’s job easier?
Long hours, lousy pay and dwindling resources make working for a newspaper a trying profession. Journalists, though, are vital to PR practitioners’ success. Here’s how you can help.
Public relations pros have their work cut out for them. As news publications undergo major staffing cuts or fold outright, many PR pros find it harder and harder to stay connected with journalists. Still, if PR pros think they have it rough, they should consider the long hours and notoriously low pay of the reporters they know.
According to a 2015 survey, newspaper reporter came in at the top of the “worst jobs” list.
How can PR pros help? Here are a few ways to can make life easier for our beleaguered counterparts:
Keep it brief
Some reporters receive hundreds of email pitches per week. When you send your pitch, don’t drone on and on; get to your point. Bullet points are a smart idea. If one or more of your outlined story ideas piques their interest, they’ll ask for more information. The reporter will probably appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Unless you’re sending a lengthy press release or have been given specific information to mention from your client, don’t provide every detail in your initial pitch. In the age of email pitching, send a couple of paragraphs, not a novel, to get your point across.
Provide sources
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