On Thursday, November 12, HomeTownRent staff attended a “Meet the Media” event hosted by Business Wire, the national news distributor for HomeTownRent. The event, which was held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, NC, featured lunch and a panel discussion regarding the best practices for corporate communications professionals within the technology and biotechnology communities. The panel of speakers included:
- Mary Hecht-Kissell, founder and president of PR Strategies, a public relations firm in NC’s Research Triangle Park (RTP).
- Tyler Dukes, web producer for News 14 Carolina, a network of 24-hour local television news channels with stations across North Carolina.
- Allan Maurer, editor of TechJournal South, a technology business publication based in RTP.
- Frank Vinluan, tech/biotech writer for the Triangle Business Journal, an online business newspaper covering Raleigh and Durham, NC.
The beginning of the “Meet the Media” panel discussion focused on the ‘thinning’ of print newspapers due to low circulation and a decline in advertising revenue. When asked his prediction for the future of print newspapers, Tyler Dukes said “community journalism will play a bigger role” because he believes local newspapers will continue to thrive. Allan Maurer then addressed the future of digital advertising, predicting that online advertising will soon be improved with an emergence of video, social media and wireless mobility.
All members of the panel agreed that the shift from print to online advertising has changed the shape of the press release, as more businesses are now distributing news through digital media formats like web publications and social media networks. With regard to the social networking service, Twitter, Allan Maurer emphasized the importance of keeping brevity in your message, stating that “If you can pitch something to me in 140 characters, I think that’s great.”
When writing and releasing a press release of your own, Mary Hecht-Kissell recommends following these tips to PR success:
Pitching:
- Email is the best way to pitch reporters.
- Don’t pitch two reporters at the same publication with the same story and not tell them about it.
- Good pitches are newsworthy. Focus on what is new, what hasn’t been done before or what is being done in a better way.
Working with Media:
- Avoid industry jargon when telling your story.
- Provide information in a timely manner to meet a reporter’s deadline.
- Avoid confrontation; focus on facts – not emotions.
Leveraging Media Coverage
- Post media coverage on your web site to help visitors find it.
- Extend your media coverage by posting it on Twitter, Facebook Fan pages and LinkedIn.
- Highlight media coverage in customer newsletters.
For more information on events hosted by Business Wire, visit: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/business-wire-events/
Filed under: Company News & Updates | Tagged: Allan Maurer, Business Wire, Business Wire events, Frank Vinluan, Mary Hecht-Kissell, Meet the Media, News 14 Carolina, online press release, PR Strategies, PR tips, press release strategies, public relations tips, TechJournal South, Triangle Business Journal, Tyler Dukes
