Skip to content

615-294-1886

d@clairemontcommunications.com

Clairemont Communications

Clairemont Communications

  • About Us
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Our Work
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Our Work
  • Services
  • Contact Us

Tag: news stories

6 Ways to Ruin Your News

6 Ways to Ruin Your News

July 9, 2019January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agencyhow get in the paper, how to get on TV, Media Pitching, news stories, Public Relations

You’re ready — primed and excited to connect with your PR agency and finally unveil your big announcement. You can almost see the articles populating your newsfeed or dancing across the 6 p.m. evening news.

But before you go blasting your information into the great big media-sphere, be sure that you’re positioning both you and your PR agency for success. Here are the common ways you can hamstring your news story. Avoid these!

1. Ask your team to pitch something that isn’t news.

Many businesses believe that internal milestones constitute “news.” And while they’re certainly important to the company, it often doesn’t apply to the general public — or to the media. As fun as it is, a new slogan or brand rarely is news. Nor is an internal anniversary (except maybe that time we created a mega media event for a client’s 5th anniversary).

Run through the gamut of test questions: Is my story something new? (Simple yet vital question.) Is this news something that will directly change the reader’s day tomorrow? Is it timely or relevant to anything else? Here’s where a good PR team can bridge the gap by helping you identify newsworthy pitches and develop solid stories around what may initially seem like a non-news event. 

2. Provide an unreasonable timeline.

At Clairemont, we work efficiently and effectively on short deadlines, especially in situations of breaking news or a crisis. However, whenever possible, plan ahead for your big release. Allow time for the team to get all details, ask key questions and develop a solid pitch strategy. Also build in a little cushion to allow for approval from any company leaders and partners.

3. Write by committee.

Trust your PR agency to craft the strongest angle and to create media materials that nail your coverage goals. Resist the urge to over-edit news releases or statements, or micro-manage the pitch strategy. Not only will this delay the process, “heavy meddling” — as we call it — can muddy the message and weaken your news.

4. Pitch on your own.

… especially if you’re working with a team of PR professionals. Our job is to know the media landscape and leverage our well-honed media relationships, connecting the right story with the right reporter. Do not begin to pitch your news at the same time to “a friend” who you happen to know at the local paper or “that guy” at the TV station. Double-pitching is a no-no and may dilute your message.

5. Be unavailable for interviews.

Media often work on a short deadline, and if they agree to an interview, time is of the essence. Provide your schedule of availability to your PR agency prior to the pitching process, and remain available during those times. Stay flexible as well for impromptu interviews. It damages relationships with media to promise them an interview slot and then cancel at the last minute. Be reliable and helpful. 

6. Go “off message” in an interview.

Often times, your team and you will craft talking points or key messages to support the overarching story. Make these your cornerstones in your interview. Don’t begin second-guessing the facts, changing the narrative or contradicting the confirmed message. This will not only confuse the reporter but also may sink the story altogether.

Looking to get your company in the news? Drop us a line to chat about a pitch strategy for your announcement or event!

Read More

Categories

  • APR
  • Awards
  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • Clairemont Client News
  • Copy Cat
  • Counselors Academy
  • Entry-Level PR Job
  • Fashion
  • Free Advice
  • Furniture PR
  • Hiring a PR Firm
  • In Our Community
  • Inspirational
  • Internal Communications
  • Marketing
  • Oh Momma Monday
  • On the Record
  • Our Work
  • Owning a Business
  • Photo of the Week
  • PR People
  • Professional Development
  • Public Relations
  • Raleigh PR Agency
  • Real Estate PR
  • Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR
  • Social Media + Influencer Engagement
  • Starting a business
  • Sustainability
  • The Clairemont Team
  • Travel
  • Trends
  • Wonderfully Random

clairemontcommunications

SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc (client) today, and rumor has it that @blah2voila has already been hamming it up with Dell! We know you want a selfie with Dell to post on Pigstagram, too!
We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of P We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of Public Relations Consultants Group, allowing us to offer clients expertise and support across the country! Clairemont founder, Dana Phelps aka @blah2voila, recently attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Comm 2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Communications! Visit our blog for the full 2022 year in review!
As communications professionals, we wear a variety As communications professionals, we wear a variety of hats to meet our clients’ needs.
 
We’re writers, social media managers, photographers, marketers, editors, content creators- the list goes on and on.
 
Check out our recent blog post to learn what @olivia.noles , account coordinator here at Clairemont, does on a weekly and monthly basis.
#communicationsagency #communicationsmajor #pragencylife #pragency #raleighpr
This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voi This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voila , will be speaking at the 2022 @nc_prsa Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference! Phelps is a repeat presenter at this annual conference, and this year she is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor during which she will share three of her coined concepts: knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing. Visit our blog for the link to register for the conference!
@clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative g @clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative go together like the bacon and eggs! And speaking of bacon and eggs, have you been to @therainbowluncheonette yet? YUM!
Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc, a master-planned community just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, will welcome @parksideraleigh, a Raleigh-favorite restaurant known for its fresh, made-from-scratch dishes, to the community!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Parkside.
“What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we “What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we get this question often, we have a series on our blog where we dive into our recent projects to give you a look at what a PR Agency really does.
 
For example, a statewide resource for small businesses recently hired Clairemont to devise an executive visibility campaign to help position the organization and its director as the leading small business resource in North Carolina.
 
Head to our blog to read what exactly an executive visibility campaign entails and to learn more about our services!
So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let us tell you about our new favorite @drink321coffee ! If you are in Raleigh, go see Paul, the other Paul, Emma  or whichever smiling faces are working today. We LOVE this place and the coffee! ❤️❤️❤️
Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest mas Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, closed on its first age-eligible rental community plan, Arden at Wendell Falls, that will offer 140 open-concept units and exclusive onsite amenities!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Arden at Wendell Falls.
Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by client @vitaviteraleigh for good snacks and great wine!🍷 Both locations are open normal hours Friday-Sunday and closed on Monday.
You never know who might be hanging out at The Cla You never know who might be hanging out at The Clairemont House. Thanks to @yellowdogcreative for helping save this buddy. Notice that we speak lizard. Or skink. Or gecko or whatever he is. Or maybe it’s the extra caffeine before our client presentation.
Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh
Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting?
Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street South @raleighwineshop ! @blah2voila was there today representing Clairemont at the grand opening festivities and enjoying the @grandchamphospitality sandwich pop up. Yum! 🍷🥪
It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers ar It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Many organizations with scarce resources rely on volunteers and would not exist without them. Visit our recent blog post to read about the organizations Clairemont has supported and how you can make a difference in your community!
Authenticity is trending, and research shows that Authenticity is trending, and research shows that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Read our recent blog post to learn about UGC, how it can benefit your brand and how to use it in your marketing strategy.
From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 has left an impact on every sector of life, including marketing. Read our blog on marketing in a post-COVID world to learn how things have changed and how that should impact your business strategy.
We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned eight awards, five gold🥇and three silver🥈, at this year's Sir Walter Raleigh Awards hosted by the Raleigh Public Relations Society!🎉 We are beyond grateful to work with so many amazing partners, clients and industry friends!
This spring, Ali de la Vega is joining the Clairem This spring, Ali de la Vega is joining the Clairemont team as an intern! Ali is a Junior at NC State who prides herself in being a daughter and a Christian as well as an amateur athlete, overachiever and older sister. Learn more about her background and how she found a love for PR on our website!
Load More Follow on Instagram
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: realy-store by inverstheme.
Cleantalk Pixel