NOT!HOT OR

LOCAL REPORTERS WEIGH IN ON WHAT REALLY MAKES YOUR PRESS RELEASE STAND OUT

NOT!HOT OR HOW MANY PRESS RELEASES DO YOU RECEIVE A DAY?

“ABOUT 10 LOCAL RELEASES, AND I COVER ONE STORY A DAY.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER

“USEFUL? MAYBE 15. ONES THAT GO STRAIGHT TO THE CAN? INFINITE.” – SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TV NEWS PRODUCER

NOT!

HOT

NOT

NOT

IF SOMEONE PITCHES A STORY TO YOU, SHOULD THEY EXPECT A RESPONSE, AND SHOULD THEY FOLLOW UP?

“DON’T CALL ME. I’LL CALL YOU. YES, THAT APPLIES TO EMAIL!” – SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY-BASED REPORTER

“I DO NOT LIKE A FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL, BUT I DO LIKE A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL THE NIGHT BEFORE OR MORNING OF THE DAY OF AN EVENT.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER

“A PRESS RELEASE IS FINE. IN FACT, I HATE WHEN PEOPLE CALL TO ASK IF WE GOT IT!” – SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TV NEWS PRODUCER

NOT!HOT OR SO HOW DOES ONE COME OUT ON TOP?

“PEOPLE TRY TO BE REALLY CREATIVE BUT REPORTERS ARE STRETCHED THIN THESE DAYS AND WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO DECIPHER WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO TELL US. KEEP IT SIMPLE.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER

“PLEASE INCLUDE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. I ALSO LIKE IT IF THEY LET US KNOW HOW THIS STORY WOULD BE GOOD FOR TV, LIKE WHY IT’S VISUALLY COMPELLING.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER

“SHORT. SWEET. TO THE POINT. JUST SAY WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY. ANYTHING ELSE – I WON’T READ IT. AND SEND PICTURES!” – SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY-BASED TV NEWS PRODUCER

AND WHAT ARE YOUR PET PEEVES? ANYTHING THAT PUTS SOMEONE ON THE ‘NOT’ LIST?

“PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PITCH INCLUDES WHEN AND WHERE. IT ALSO NEEDS TO CONTAIN A CONTACT CELL NUMBER FOR SOMEONE REGARDING THE PRESS RELEASE. MOST ANNOYING THING IS GETTING AN OFFICE VOICEMAIL, WHEN YOU JUST NEED A QUICK QUESTION ANSWERED REGARDING THE PRESS RELEASE.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER

“IF YOU SEND A PRESS RELEASE, BE READY TO DO THE STORY! IT IS SO ANNOYING WHEN SOMEONE SENDS A PRESS RELEASE BUT THEN IS UNAVAILABLE TO TALK TO YOU, TELL YOU MORE, OR DO AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW.” – SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER

“IT SEEMS SO STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY PRESS RELEASES DO NOT INCLUDE WHEN OR WHERE AN EVENT IS TAKING PLACE.” – SAN LUIS OBISPO-BASED TV NEWS PRODUCER