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| | Post New Topic | | Interesting Encounter With News Media | Views: 90 | | Oct 23, 2009 12:19 am | | Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Yesterday, I went to a luncheon of the Middletown Luncheon Club. There was a special slideshow presentation by the Boy and Girl Scouts on the agenda. To my utter shock a reporter for the county-wide newspaper, the Lake County Record-Bee actually showed up. As is customary, the head of the luncheon club asks the group for local announcements. Well, I stood up and for nearly 5 minutes gave information on several events I knew were occuring and needed attendees - including the October 31st "Blast From The Past" Harvest Party by my church and the Social Media Workshop Meetup I planned with a friend at the Hidden Valley Food Mart.
After the meeting was over, I approached the reporter and asked that she attend both of my events as they were newsworthy events that deserved media coverage. To say she simply declined my invitations is an understatement. She was arrogant and demeaning. Keep in mind this woman reporter is assigned to cover news in this community. There's not much that is newsworthy that happens in this area. So, you would think she would be thrilled to death to cover something that was actually designed to attract a crowd of people. Not so. Believe it or not, the woman reporter told me she refused to cover my workshop because the event was commercial rather than nonprofit. Can you imagine someone saying to Steve Jobs, "We refuse to cover your keynote address because it is commercial rather than nonprofit?" At least her reason for not covering the Harvest Party on Oct. 31st made better sense. She said she had a prior commitment and besides it was her only day off.
But, here's the kicker. I sent the Record-Bee my article via email. They told me yesterday it would be in today's paper. Guess what? My article is on Page 2, right next to the article by that reporter. Talk about poetic justice. See for yourself -
 .
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 23, 2009 9:45 am | | Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
Teddy Towncrier | |
Congratulations, Lamar! .... Now I'm beginning to understand why they called you "Mr Unstoppable", in Chicago.
We're proud of you!
I'd be inclined to drop her a honey dripping note (Snail mail) and thank her for her interest in .......
Do not mention your end run.
... and KEEP IT SHORT!
BTW; ... I could use a few ReTweets for this fitting video tribute to our serving heroes. Enchilada Here
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
 
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Oct 23, 2009 2:16 pm | | re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Hi Lamar
While I appreciate your gumption, and the reporter had no call to be short with you... you MUST approach the press in an entirely different way than you would, say, a person on the street.
Most folks in the media are more receptive to requests for writeups/visits if the person asking for the media attention knows some rules about getting it.
She may (or may not) have been more receptive to your requests about writing up/visiting the events if you had...
a) Told her (quickly and to the point) why the events were important and newsworthy to her. Not just listing off the names, times and dates.
b) Given her some kind of angle to use on the events. Aks yourself, "Why does this event matter, from a public outsider's perspective?"
I think her combined excuses that the events were commercial and non-profit along with her saying she was off that day, might have been a cop-out to not being honest and telling you that you had not persuaded her enough.
Kudos to you and great job on getting it smack next to the reporter's piece on the Hidden Valley luncheon!
Even though you succeeded in this small battle, next time, I would be sure to look at the news staff masthead on your local paper(s) to find out who the BUSINESS journalist is. Those are the folks you want to talk to you in the future, for covering commercial writeups/visits. If the newspaper staff is smaller though--and doesn't have a person devoted to just following & reporting local business/economic development news (having grown up in a very small town, I understand if this may be the case)--then check with one of the editor's desk staffers to find out who to talk to.
Also, I agree with Teddy in that your piece could have been shorter. Long explanations within artcles can make readers' eyes glaze over.
I also noticed the lack of any quotes in the piece. A good write up or press release must include at least one quote taken directly from someone involved. Whether it be a local expert on the topic in question, or someone who is attending, or anticipating the event and has something to say about it.
Just some food for thought.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Oct 23, 2009 4:40 pm | | re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
John Snyder | | Lamar,
This is Par for the Course for many "Newspapers", they cover the News they wish to cover. I have discovered the best way is not to intersect a reporter but rather to contact the Editor-In-Chief in advance. You can either make an appointmrnt to see this person in person (Which is the best way to get your material seen) or you can send your Complete Article to him/her with all the pertinent information requesting that a Reporter cover this event and why they should. Remember, what you may think is News worthy, they may not, so you must give them solid reasoning. If you can give them New Ideas, Excitment Etc, as to why they need to be there, They will make an effort. Also do not limit yourself to just one Media, contact them all including Radio and TV. Let the others know that All Media has been encouraged to attend. Pack excitement into your invitations and get confirmations. You do this in a Professional Manner, request a meeting prior to the Event, Lay out a good format and Presentation and you will get the coverage you are looking for.
Regards,
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder | | Oct 23, 2009 5:22 pm | | re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo and John,
I appreciate your suggestions very much.
Bobbi Jo, you are on target about those quotes. Even though you could not read the entire article, I did not have any quotes in the article. It would have been a better article had I had them. I am a student of journalism. I actually know better. So, shame on me.
John, it was very apparent to me very quickly that this woman reporter had no desire to write an article about anything involving me. I had mentioned a long list of activities when I stood up to talk at this luncheon. In her article (which appears in the paper next to mine), Denise does not mention anything I brought up to the audience. But, she does mention items brought up by other people. So, she chose to "shut me out"...on purpose. The idea that she could not cover the workshop for the newspaper simply because it was a commercial event is ridiculous. It would have made more sense for her to say she already had another commitment that day. But, instead, she made it seem that my event was somehow "unqualified" for coverage.
This is a small town. Denise is likely the only one to cover anything that happens here. You go to the paper's website and see that she is the contact person. But, I will do as you folks suggest and approach the editor-in-chief with my request for coverage. I would likely be better off if someone other than Denise came out to cover the event, anyway. Denise has already said "no" once. I don't want her to say "no" to me a second time. I would much prefer someone else say "no" or better yet actually show up.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 23, 2009 5:50 pm | | re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
John Snyder | | Lamar,
Is this "Reporter" Censoring the News? All you need tho do is have Documented Proof of this and present that to her Editor. A letter for publication to the Editor on the Opinions Page might also be in order. If you have News Worthy Information involving a Non-Profit Organization,Etc., the paper is duty-bound to publish it, at least in part. If every member of a group were to screm because their group was discriminated against by not having it's News published, what do you think would happen?
The Newspaper is not the only News Outlet there, what would happen if all of a sudden they were left out of important News Events? I have seen this with a local Paper, They were driven right out of Business when they started losing Customers and Advertisers. Regional Papers picked up the slack, also a Penny-Saver type Paper helped out by circulating their FREE Paper in a wider area to include this small City. Radio Stations also have to provide a small amount of Local Service announcements, but unless you provide them the details, they have no way of knowing. What is the worst thing a Media Concern can say to you? So what if they turn you down, at least one may say, "YES!"
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder | | Oct 23, 2009 6:53 pm | | re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Hi Lamar
It's unfortunate that this person chose not to publish anything you said at that luncheon. Weird. Sounds like she has some unnecessary personal reservation about you for some odd reason.
It's too bad she is the only contact on the website, and from what it sounds like, perhaps the only reporter.
Persistence pays, though. Instead of asking her again, only to have her say, "No.", wouldn't it be VERY interesting (and satisfying) to convince the editor to report something on one of your other upcoming events? Then she'd HAVE to do it, if the editor(s) say "Yes."
I agree with John, in having a letter to the editor, to approach the topic of why certain news/events are being overlooked. BUT...before you do that, I would highly suggest getting some other folks in your community to step up to the plate and offer quotes or some feedback about how important it is to them/the community to be able to have these things promoted in the newspaper. THEN, put together the letter with the quotes from those folks (with their permission of course). Then your letter will not appear to be one of a one-man-mission.
Why not apply the same "collaboration/uplift" effort you hoisted, in getting those letters sent out to promote the event you had at the shopping center last summer?
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Oct 23, 2009 8:42 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
Excellent suggestion. I will do exactly that. I was going to just send an email. But no, I will write a letter and send it first-class. You are right to suggest a person who talks mutual collaboration should be demonstrating it in his daily walk. I would be a hypocrite to disagree. However, agreeing is not enough. I have to actually do it. I probably won't get any feedback until the event is almost here. But, I will let you know what the newspaper decides to do.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 24, 2009 10:37 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
Eileen Brown | | Oh Boy, the media...
I've had them show up at my front door with microphone in
hand, camera rolling with questions I did not want to
answer in my housecoat and wet hair in a towel. If they
want an interview, I inform them, they need to make an
appointment to do so, like REAL people.
I've also submitted many articles to newspapers that were
printed with the editors by-line instead of mine, and THAT
is even more irksome!
Your problem, Lamar, is that the reporter in question had
no idea that your information was valid. I would, however,
report the incident to the paper's editor. Perhaps her
boss can push that attitude of hers in another direction.
A little "huffy" attitude on your part might be called for,
in this instance. YOU have a right to expect RESPECT from
anyone you approach and not that "snooty" crap you were
handed.
AND I am not going to apologize for this attitude. Too many of
those people think there are no boundary's on what they do and
how they do it, not matter the resulting confusion to the general
public. OR the harm done by their poison pens.
.02
Eileen :O
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Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Oct 24, 2009 9:34 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Eileen,
You had to be there for the encounter between me and this reporter. I am about as tall as Gov. Schwarzenegger, but nowhere near as broad. The Governor is muscular. I am, well, slender. However, this woman reporter looked like she could play football for any NFL team WITHOUT PADS. When I walked over to talk with her she looked at me as if she was prepared to squash me, if I even appeared to push an issue. While I did not back down from making two distinct requests, I did not push.
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and somehow, for some strange reason, sensed "danger?" In your mind the red light goes off and you just know it's time to retreat. Have you ever had one of those experiences? Well, I have. Not a lot. But, more than I would wish on anyone.
I am going to do as Bobbi Jo suggested. I am actually going to go out of my way to say something nice about this female reporter. Yes, I want the paper to send someone to cover my workshop. And, should they choose to send someone other than Denise, my feelings will not be hurt.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Oct 24, 2009 10:56 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # | 
Scott Wolpow | | Did she have short finger nails and comfortable shoes?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Oct 25, 2009 12:03 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Re: Interesting Encounter With News Media | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
To be perfectly honest, I did not look at her fingernails or her shoes. I just had the funniest feeling I was in a football game. It was forth down. Time to punt. She was the kicker and I was the football.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
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