MEDIA

Building relationships with media outlets is essential to the success of any nonprofit organization.

Advertising is most often an afterthought for nonprofit organizations. The mindset is backward, it should not be thought of as an expense but rather in an investment.

For a nonprofit organization, media coverage is by far the most beneficial resource for reaching a broader audience when advocating for your cause.

I highly recommend adding a public relations professional to your team. PR pros understand the protocols of interacting with the media and often have pre-established relationships with local and national outlets.

Tips for interacting with the media:

Be selective! Send only newsworthy information to media outlets when seeking coverage.

Be prompt! Reporters and camera crews run on very tight schedules, they won’t have time to wait for you and you could lose your shot.

Be prepared! Make sure you have a printed copy of your press release or talking points to provide to reporters.

Keep it brief but complete! Time slots are often limited to only a minute or two. Don’t ramble. Answer questions clearly and concisely to maximize the amount of information you can provide.