effective media relations for the water industry
DESCRIPTION
What the water industry needs to know about effective media relations so that the public knows and understands what they're paying forTRANSCRIPT
Effective Media Relations forthe Water/Wastewater Industry
Brian GongolDJ Gongol & Associates, Inc.
March 2013
Why we communicateWhy we communicate
Why we communicateWhy we communicate
EmergenciesEmergenciesRates, fees, and regulationsRates, fees, and regulationsGoodwillGoodwill
It happens more than you might thinkIt happens more than you might think
How the news media see NebraskaHow the news media see Nebraska
"Gotcha" journalism doesn't work here"Gotcha" journalism doesn't work here
Journalism: High Pressure, Low ResourcesJournalism: High Pressure, Low Resources
Tell a story or someone will tell it for youTell a story or someone will tell it for you
The Internet is like a party-line phoneThe Internet is like a party-line phone
Rumors can spread at lightning speedRumors can spread at lightning speed
You can't force anyone to fact-checkYou can't force anyone to fact-check
It costs almost nothing to organizeIt costs almost nothing to organize
Fear builds swiftly - calm takes timeFear builds swiftly - calm takes time
Build relationships before emergenciesBuild relationships before emergencies
There are many concurrent news cyclesThere are many concurrent news cycles
ForthrightnessForthrightness
HonestyHonesty
AccuracyAccuracy
AccessibilityAccessibility
Nobody likes a beggarNobody likes a beggar
Beggars get ignoredBeggars get ignored
Givers get attentionGivers get attention
Always respond immediatelyAlways respond immediately
The story will happen with or without youThe story will happen with or without you
The story will happen with or without youThe story will happen with or without you
“could not be reachedfor comment”
Be available when nobody else isBe available when nobody else is
Offer novel stories to coverOffer novel stories to cover
Journalists love to win awardsJournalists love to win awards
Personalize the story whenever you canPersonalize the story whenever you can
Expect to be condensed and summarizedExpect to be condensed and summarized
Impressions matter as much as factsImpressions matter as much as facts
Education takes time and patienceEducation takes time and patience
Education isn't advocacyEducation isn't advocacy
Fear will always be a powerful motivatorFear will always be a powerful motivator
You can only lead a parade from the frontYou can only lead a parade from the front
Questions to answerQuestions to answer
Have you established media rapport?Have you established media rapport?
Who is your public face?Who is your public face?
Who is your emergency point of contact?Who is your emergency point of contact?
How quickly can you be found online?How quickly can you be found online?
Can you quickly update your website?Can you quickly update your website?
Do you have at least one backup?Do you have at least one backup?
