3 ways to make your story more newsworthy
Brad Phillips, founder and president of Phillips Media Relations outlines three ways to make a story more newsworthy to the press. Phillips was formerly a journalist for ABC News and CNN, and also headed the media relations department for the second largest environmental group in the world.
Here are three ideas from Phillips that you can use for your story.
1. Announce Something New — Since the word “news” contains the word “new,” it’s always a good idea to announce something that’s never been announced before. Perhaps it’s a new product, a new piece of research, a new piece of legislation, etc.
2. Include an Extreme — Reporters love anything that represents the first, last, best, worst, biggest, smallest, greatest, etc. If you are releasing the first report of its kind, say so. If your new product is the smallest microwave oven ever produced, put it in the headline.
3. Counterintuitive is Good — Reporters love stories that make the reader do a double take and say, “What did that say?” If your story runs counter to everything we think we know, it’s going to get noticed. For example, if new research concludes that dumping toxic waste in a pond actually helps the fish population, the press will be on the phone with you almost instantly.
