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Don't Be Shy About Contacting Reporters

Written by Leigh Joy Carson

There are lot of reporters out there and a lot of minutes of airtime and a lot of pages of print to fill. Reporters are used to talking to people, so decide which people might be interested in doing a story about your idea and contact that person by phone or by e-mail.

Be ready to describe your idea in three minutes or less (the classic elevator speech).
Don't be discouraged by rejection. If you are enthused about your idea, contact every media person who might possibly be interested. Remember the old sales adage that every rejection just gets you one step closer to your ultimate goal. And just because one idea is not successful, try another.

Developing a relationship with a reporter in your field will lead to a receptive audience for your ideas as well as the chance of being asked for input regarding other stories. Being interviewed on radio or television or quoted in a magazine or newspaper is powerful publicity that will help both in the present but also in the future through your website, your promotional materials and your status in the world of the media.

Intimidating to call a reporter whom you have never met? Sure. Worth it when you are on television or the radio or quoted in a newspaper or magazine? Absolutely. Long ago I represented some grandparents in a custody case. When their son needed an attorney, they could not recall my name or locate their paperwork. Then, one of them saw an article in which I was quoted and the article was clipped, my name underlined in red pencil and sent to the son and I had a new client.