The Public Relations Blog

Getting media coverage for your company can seem daunting, especially for a newbie or someone who doesn’t understand how the news media works. It’s possible to earn media coverage without writing a news release; you just need to make sure you’re pitching your company the right way. Here’s a list of 21 mistakes you might be making when you pitch your company to the news media.

This is one story in our series about COVID-19. Read 8 ways your PR agency can assist you during COVID-19 for more.

Even as the media's primary focus is on the coronavirus pandemic, journalists are looking for non-COVID-19 stories. For example, a London features and deputy news editor put out a call for "non-CV stories" and then replied with this:

Too often companies discount the value of media coverage. Some get anxiety, others are too busy, but most don't know what to do. The media has a responsibility to cover business news and industry trends. Your organization has a critical role in this process. With a prompt and strategic response, your business can leverage opportunities for media coverage. These tips will help you manage calls from the media. 

Thirteen tips for being included in a news story

News media coverage is important and necessary for CPA firms because it improves your company’s overall reputation with the public. Inclusion in news stories also helps place your CPA firm at the forefront of new customers’ minds as well as solidify your company as the best choice for current customers. 

The hundred dollar question you may be asking yourself is how does a CPA firm get in the news?

It’s possible to attract media attention even if you think nothing within your company is newsworthy. Use the following tips to identify and create news for your business, ultimately gaining the publicity you desire.

Today, I want to share with you the work Axia Public Relations is doing on earned media and helping clients with news coverage. TV newsrooms often keep a daybook for their news shows, which they use to see topics they want to cover each day and in the future. If you want the news team to cover your story, you need to be in that daybook. And, if you have a big announcement, you want to be first on the list. It’s important to know where you rank on the list because the list could be five things, or it could be 20.

Recently, I attended a PRSA chapter’s Media Roundtable event where 12 journalists from different outlets and backgrounds gathered to give insight and best practices to public relations professionals. While all journalists have their own preferred way for you to pitch them – and it depends if their outlet is print, online, or broadcast TV – there are some similarities that PR pros should know.

Rethink media relations’ role in your communication strategy

Earning media coverage for your company is more difficult than ever. Newsrooms are smaller and journalists cover multiple beats and report for multiple platforms. Additionally, there are more opportunities for advertising. It’s time to rethink media relations and understand its role in your overall communication strategy.

Grow your business using media contacts

When you think about how to get explosive business growth, you probably imagine your company website displaying on the first page of Google’s search results – and all the traffic that comes with that. No doubt, this is something that would do it. However, there are other ways to grow your company without necessarily being No. 1 on Google. And one of the most important is building solid media connections.

A newsworthy story doesn’t require a favor

A public relations insider knows that relationships matter when connecting with reporters. You must build and maintain relationships with journalists in order to receive quality media coverage. And you can’t call it a relationship when you’re simply asking a favor. A relationship benefits you and the media outlet, while a favor is requesting a reporter or contact give your company preferential treatment through media coverage.