We will be having another workshop next month (10 & 11 August 2009). You can read more about this workshop in our website www.intelectasia.com
Media Relations August 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Media List & Contacts (Malaysia)
Many have asked me about media contacts. I have actually started a media database, but it is not easy as it really involves a lot of hard work and consistent effort to ensure the media database is always relevant and up to date, especially when there are so many changes in the local media scene (just spoke to a reporter from Malay Mail and apparently they are still undergoing a lot of changes). Nevertheless, I am sharing some contacts that you might find useful when dealing with the media. Hope it helps! (please refer to my latest post March 2015 on latest media contacts)
Quick Malaysia Media Contacts
Quick Malaysia Media Contacts
Monday, July 6, 2009
Facebook Bootcamp for PR
I think this is one very good presentation by Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide on how to use Facebook as a tool for PR.
I think I have mentioned this before that its time that PR practitioners have to start looking beyond the traditional media. The new media such as Facebook, YouTube, blogs and Twitter are now equally powerful when trying to reach out to the publics (i.e. stakeholders, media, consumers, public. But nevertheless, it is very important that your organization fully supports your new media endeavor.Many organizations still feel that the new media is waste of time (as shared by the participants during the workshop).
Somethings that you will learn in this webinar above:
>A Facebook Strategy Checklist
>5 Ways to Rapid Start Your Facebook Strategy
>5 Ways to Engage Your Community
>5 Ways to Activate Your Community
>5 Ways to Add Scale and Impact
>Tools and Tips to Measure Your Success
>5 Facebook Trends to Watch
>What NOT to do
I think I have mentioned this before that its time that PR practitioners have to start looking beyond the traditional media. The new media such as Facebook, YouTube, blogs and Twitter are now equally powerful when trying to reach out to the publics (i.e. stakeholders, media, consumers, public. But nevertheless, it is very important that your organization fully supports your new media endeavor.Many organizations still feel that the new media is waste of time (as shared by the participants during the workshop).
Somethings that you will learn in this webinar above:
>A Facebook Strategy Checklist
>5 Ways to Rapid Start Your Facebook Strategy
>5 Ways to Engage Your Community
>5 Ways to Activate Your Community
>5 Ways to Add Scale and Impact
>Tools and Tips to Measure Your Success
>5 Facebook Trends to Watch
>What NOT to do
A Very Successful Media Relations Workshop!
We were so happy and delighted that the media relations workshop on the 29th and 30th June went so well. I think the most important thing for any trainer is when the participants go back and say "Yes, that was worth my time". The team shared valuable insights for media relations. My personal favorite was when the participants did the 20 seconds pitch! It was extremely hilarious seeing all these PR people persuading the editor to cover their event or write about them.
And of course, the bonus was when immediately two days after the workshop, one participant received good coverage including two tv stations (TV3 and NTV7) to cover an event. I will post her comments soon!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Six Golden Rules to Win the Media's Attention
Often, as public relations practitioners or consultants, when we launch an event, we anticipate a good turnout from the media. We have to answer to many if the turnout is poor, the bosses, the clients etc etc. But how do we ensure that media turnout is good? Let me share five golden rules to win this battle!
Golden Rule 1- Always Have a Good Story
Half the battle is won when you have a good angle to your story. A good story is when a road show to promote tyres is tied up with a national road safety campaign. A poor story is the launch of a road show to promote tyres.
Golden Rule 2- Do not sell products or services
Being boring is very very dangerous for pr practitioners. Think differently; always make your story newsworthy. Always think like journalists/editors. Will you cover the e
vent if you were a journalist?
Golden Rule 3-Develop a Thick Skin
After pitching or emailing, you must follow up. Check with the news desk whether they will be covering your event or publishing your press release. They are normally more than happy to answer your questions. But please, do not harass, do not call them every other day and ask "When is the story coming out?", "Will you guys be covering the event?" the first question can be asked only once, maximum twice. But if you build rapport with the journalist, of course it’s easier to ask, but again, how would you feel if someone calls you every other day to ask you the same questions over and over again. Unless, you want them to toss your story out of the window, which is highly possible!
Golden Rule 4- Develop a Variety of Channels
This is my favourite! I have mentioned this before in my press release. Do not depend so much on the traditional media. They are overloaded. Be different. Yes, go to the traditional media but also go to news wires ( I will share with you the press release wires that are free), blogs, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter. Editors or journalist might just pick up your story from there such as a recent story on cleaning up a waterfall in Selangor.Guess what, the organiser used Facebook to invite all the volunteers! The story was even aired in TV3!
Golden Rule 5- Jangan Tipu!
Yes desperation can make us do many things that we don’t want to! But we are bound by ethics, which means that we must always write the whole truth and nothing but the truth. When writing press releases, don’t inflate the numbers, don’t add things that never happened etc. This is also important when faced with the crisis. Always tell the truth. When inviting press, do not lie to attract them, if they find out, they will blacklist you forever!
Golden Rule 6- Do not Over Expose!
I had this chance to do PR for a premier higher learning institution. One of my favourite accounts!
They had so many good stories, and always it was a pleasure from my side to invite the media. This organization was always the first in doing something, won many awards, had excellent research facility and many others interesting stories. Every story was newsworthy. But there was one point; there were just tooooo many stories. Every other day, there was something happening. Unfortunately, this back fired. The media presence dwindled. The stories undoubtedly good, but the media can’t be reporting the same organization every day. Planning is the key. Space out the events. Have deliverables set. How many stories should be out every month? Then plan accordingly.
So here you are six golden rules to win media's attention. If you noticed, there is no mention of nice goodie bags, money or free lunch. Again there is no harm is giving out goodie bags and treating them to a nice lunch, (money is a big no no), but the key is - create a newsworthy story!
Golden Rule 1- Always Have a Good Story
Half the battle is won when you have a good angle to your story. A good story is when a road show to promote tyres is tied up with a national road safety campaign. A poor story is the launch of a road show to promote tyres.
Golden Rule 2- Do not sell products or services
Being boring is very very dangerous for pr practitioners. Think differently; always make your story newsworthy. Always think like journalists/editors. Will you cover the e
vent if you were a journalist?Golden Rule 3-Develop a Thick Skin
After pitching or emailing, you must follow up. Check with the news desk whether they will be covering your event or publishing your press release. They are normally more than happy to answer your questions. But please, do not harass, do not call them every other day and ask "When is the story coming out?", "Will you guys be covering the event?" the first question can be asked only once, maximum twice. But if you build rapport with the journalist, of course it’s easier to ask, but again, how would you feel if someone calls you every other day to ask you the same questions over and over again. Unless, you want them to toss your story out of the window, which is highly possible!
Golden Rule 4- Develop a Variety of Channels
This is my favourite! I have mentioned this before in my press release. Do not depend so much on the traditional media. They are overloaded. Be different. Yes, go to the traditional media but also go to news wires ( I will share with you the press release wires that are free), blogs, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter. Editors or journalist might just pick up your story from there such as a recent story on cleaning up a waterfall in Selangor.Guess what, the organiser used Facebook to invite all the volunteers! The story was even aired in TV3!
Golden Rule 5- Jangan Tipu!
Yes desperation can make us do many things that we don’t want to! But we are bound by ethics, which means that we must always write the whole truth and nothing but the truth. When writing press releases, don’t inflate the numbers, don’t add things that never happened etc. This is also important when faced with the crisis. Always tell the truth. When inviting press, do not lie to attract them, if they find out, they will blacklist you forever!
Golden Rule 6- Do not Over Expose!
I had this chance to do PR for a premier higher learning institution. One of my favourite accounts!
They had so many good stories, and always it was a pleasure from my side to invite the media. This organization was always the first in doing something, won many awards, had excellent research facility and many others interesting stories. Every story was newsworthy. But there was one point; there were just tooooo many stories. Every other day, there was something happening. Unfortunately, this back fired. The media presence dwindled. The stories undoubtedly good, but the media can’t be reporting the same organization every day. Planning is the key. Space out the events. Have deliverables set. How many stories should be out every month? Then plan accordingly.
So here you are six golden rules to win media's attention. If you noticed, there is no mention of nice goodie bags, money or free lunch. Again there is no harm is giving out goodie bags and treating them to a nice lunch, (money is a big no no), but the key is - create a newsworthy story!
Join our Media Relations Workshop on 29 & 30 June 2009 to learn more about media relations strategies, tools and tips!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Press Release: Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop
Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop
Award winning journalists roped it to provide training
Award winning journalists roped it to provide training
Kuala Lumpur, 19 May 2009: intelectasia™ Consultancy, a premier public relations learning and development company has recently launched its Media Relations Workshop.
Besides having experienced public relations practitioners as trainers, award winning journalists and editors from the local media agencies have also been roped in as facilitators for this workshop.
“For us, the media relations workshops act as a platform to share our knowledge and expertise in this field. By doing so, we hope that many more organizations will understand the key elements of media relations such as creating newsworthy stories and optimizing the new media as a channel to reach out to stay ahead in today’s competitive environment.” says Manminder Kaur Dhillon, CEO of intelectasia™.
The old school of thought by sending press releases and hoping media to cover an event especially in Malaysia has to endThe two day workshop focused on various media relations strategies, attention grabbing press release writing, pitching, crisis communications and most importantly the use of new media as tool for media relations.
According to Manminder, constant presence of an organization in the various electronic, print and more recently, the new media, is vital to increase the confidence of stakeholders and public towards the organization.
“Media relations has always been an important element for most organizations, but during these trying times, more emphasis should be given to create presence by maximising the potential of the new media.”
Manminder cites Coca-cola as good example on how an organization should embrace the new media. By simply realising the potential of Facebook, the soft drink giant used the social networking site to communicate with millions of consumers. And this story was picked up by major news channels all over the world, automatically generating news for the brand.
“The old school of thought by sending press releases and hoping media to cover an event especially in Malaysia has to end. Everyone is jostling for the media’s attention. Why not create your own news? Use blogs, forums, social networking sites to communicate, use Youtube to upload interesting videos, use Twitter to update fresh stories. Editors and journalists are picking up stories from these sites to have a fresh take on things. Don’t bore the media with launches and events.” adds Manminder.
Manminder should know. Being on both sides of the fence, as an ex-broadcast journalist with a local news channel before joining a public relations firm as a consultant, Manminder believes that most organizations still depend heavily on traditional media to reach out to stakeholders and often overlook the whole idea of creating newsworthy stories.
Links:
Press Release: Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop
Links:
PR-USA.net - Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop
New Media as an Important Media Relations Tool during the Economic Crisis
Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop
Intelectasia Launches Media Relations Workshop - PR.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)