The end of year holidays can be a great time to grab some free publicity. I found a post on Susan Young’s “Get In Front Blogging”, site that tells us exactly how to grab some of that free air-time. It’s a great primer in dealing with the media. Reprinted below with her permission is that helpful post.

Huge PR Window for You to Get Publicity

by SUSAN R YOUNG on NOVEMBER 19, 2009

There are certain times of the year that news comes to a screeching halt. One of these times is staring us straight in the face: the long Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. State legislative sessions are typically on break, school is out, people are traveling, shopping and stressing.  This is an ideal time to develop and pitch stories.

Even though business and government may be slower than usual, newspapers are still being printed and TV and radio stations still have on-air programming spots to fill.

You can help.

After spending 10 years in a busy radio newsroom, I covered the same holiday stories that the media covers today–gas prices, airline travel, food, relatives, stress, shopping, house guests and football games. Sound familiar?

Consider this. Many stories that may seem weak or tough to pitch during a busy news cycle can easily grab the attention of a reporter during the slower holiday season. Thanksgiving is here and Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner. It’s time to be proactive.

Here are 3 quick and easy tips for getting coverage on long weekends. By the way, #3 can be used for your blogs or e-zines too.

1. Remember that Thanksgiving Day is on a Thursday. Many people take off the entire week, through Sunday, November 29.  If you send out your press release or pitch on Monday or Tuesday (11/23 or 11/24) , the reporters can use it anytime over the course of the next seven or eight days.  The media is open 24/7. Your sleeper story on a busy news day could be a big headline over the extended holiday.

2. Keep it undated. If you have an “evergreen story” with no real date attached to it, that’s ideal for coverage over a long weekend and slow news cycle. You may send the release out as a Thanksgiving story and be pleasantly surprised to see it was picked up by reporters a few weeks later.

3. Get creative!  Stay away from the typical seasonal stories that reporters cover. Hard news and business stories are ideal for these time periods. Cause-related marketing with nonprofits are newsworthy too. For example, most groups hustle for holiday food drives in November and December yet there are plenty of hungry people in July. Does your company or family volunteer year-round? If so, pitch the story. Organize an off-season beach cleanup with your co-workers. Announce a new program or partnership on mentoring with a school or community group.

Take advantage of this window of opportunity by planning ahead and developing new ideas and energy.  The reporters will appreciate your efforts and you can build critical relationships with them for future pitching and coverage.

Tagged as: Business, holiday, media, media training, News, news coverage, nonprofits, PR, publicity, reporters, Thanksgiving, Christmas, business, media relations

Link to the original article:

http://www.getinfrontblogging.com/business/huge-pr-window-for-you-to-get-publicity/

You can follow Susan on Twitter @sueyoungmedia and please check out her blog at www.getinfrontblogging.com.

(C) 2009 www.media-training.info

Do you know what to wear when you will be on TV. Make your television appearance a success by following this checklist:

What To Wear When You Are Going To be On Television:

-No white or dark clothing
-Several set of clothes so the director has a choice
-No beeping watches
-Pager and cell phone turned off
-Take a comb, makeup, and mirror
-Eyeglasses, if must wear get glare free type or frames with no lenses
-Don’t forget to get a good night sleep before the shoot

Pay attention to the last point in the checklist as well as the clothing tips. Part of looking great is felling great. Don’t try to squeeze in that size too small suit – if it’s uncomfortable – you’ll be too. A good night’s sleep will work wonders for your appearance.

Remember when dressing for TV the camera “sees” things differently than the human eye. Keep it simple, solid colors, pastels, no fine patterns or distracting jewelry.

Also don’t forget if you have any questions call the director or your contact person before the day of the video shoot. They will appreciate it and together you can look your best and have  a successful TV appearance.

Read the complete article at:

http://www.media-training.info/Media-Training-Articles/What-To-Wear-On-TV.html

(C) 2009 www.media-training.info

Media training in the news. Here’s a look at how the entertainment industry is using media training.

Music Industry

By Music Row 10-19-2009 12:04 AM —

Studio owners launch full-service firm

Robin Ball and Todd Bradley have opened Burning Blue Music, a full-service entertainment company dedicated to artist management, recording, producing, songwriting, performance, media training and artist development. The pair will continue operating Red Current Recording studio in Brentwood, which has hosted sessions by James Otto, Lady Antebellum and the Muzik Mafia, to name a few.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/10/19/on_music_row_garth_makes_wynn_stint_official

 Click on the link above to read the complete article.

 TimesOnLine

 Dionne Bromfield, Amy Winehouse’s 13-year-old protege

She is the 13-year-old godchild of Amy Winehouse, a baby-soul sensation determined not to follow in her troubled mentor’s footsteps. In the middle of a secondary-school tour, she explains why she’s more than a ‘wannabe Miley Cyrus kid’

 “What Amy does with her life is what Amy does with her life,” replies Dionne with a soundbite polish that comes of having been dispatched, courtesy of her godmother’s millions, to a vocal and media training camp in Los Angeles for two weeks. “I can’t sit there and say, ‘Don’t do this and don’t do that’. But obviously it’s not nice reading something about anybody. But she’s on top now. She’s getting better.”

 http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6895953.ece

Click on the link above to read the complete article.

I swapped life on the dole for big money record deal, says upcoming Scots star Bandito

Oct 30 2009 By Bev Lyons

UP-AND-COMING Scots musician Russell Graham swapped life on the dole for a big-money record deal with Ministry of Sound’s Hard2Beat Records.

With his good looks and strong vocals, Russell, who performs under the name Bandito, has won a strong following around the UK with forthcoming track Rockin’ At The Disco.

… He recalled: “I got through and went to London for four months. At the time it was crazy because I was so young and had never left home.

“We shared a house in Surrey and had media training, intense vocal training and choreography. We were called Braveheart and Tim Byrne, the man behind Steps and A1, was our manager, and Simon Cowell was there when we did a showcase. The whole thing was Simon’s project and he had final approval of everything.”

 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/music/2009/10/30/i-swapped-life-on-the-dole-for-big-money-record-deal-says-upcoming-scots-star-bandito-86908-21784439/

Click on the link above to read the complete article.

(C) 2009 www.Media-Training.info

The blog post below is from “Harry’s Place” ( http://www.hurryupharry.org/ ) political bog and is reposted here with permission. We have added comments before the original post regarding the media training lessons that can be taken from the story.

Please read the story below and think about what we can learn from their mistake(s). In this example an Obama Administration official agrees to an interview on her subject of expertise at he White House. For our purposes it doesn’t matter who she is or what the topic is. What matters to us is that the interview goes in a bad direction for her and by reflection her boss (The President).

As you will see when you read the story the interview guest says she was mislead about the topic and was used to give an air of credibility to a subject that she must likely disagreed with. Think about how if she had taken ten minutes to do some research into the show, there would have been no controversy; the interview would never have been done. If she did not have the ten minutes to check on the shows credentials herself then how about a staff person or how about he press office. It’s that an important part of what they do?

Anyway read on and you will see what I am getting at- Know who is interviewing you and any hidden agenda they might have.

She should have hung up

Gene, October 24th 2009, 3:56 pm

Media Training Everyone Needs It

We’ve said everyone needs media training now here are some examples of those getting it:

Media Training Everybody’s Getting It:

(1) The Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Basketball Team Gets Media Training

 The Oklahoma City Thunder is all a Twitter

NewsOK.com The Thunder is scheduled to have its annual media training session this week… 

Click on the link to read the complete story.

http://www.newsok.com/the-oklahoma-city-thunder-is-all-a-twitter/article/3410039?custom_click=pod_lead_nba-thunder

 (2) The 2010 National Beef Ambassadors Are Getting Media Training 

2010 National Beef Ambassadors announced

High Plains Journal

…were chosen as the 2010 National Beef Ambassador Team winners at the annual competition, funded in part by the beef checkoff, held Oct. 9 to 11 in Fort Smith, Ark. Contestants were judged in the areas of consumer promotion, classroom presentation, media interview technique and issues response.

 While preparing for this national beef promotion and education competition, youth across the nation learn about beef and the beef industry within their family and with support from state CattleWomen, Cattlemen’s associations and state beef councils. The preparation highlights industry issues of current consumer interest. Winners of the state competitions compete at the national level receiving additional media training. After the event, as youth ambassadors, they speak to industry issues and misconceptions, while educating peers and others about food safety, nutrition and the Beef Checkoff Program at consumer events, in the classroom and online.

Click on the link to read the complete story. 

http://www.hpj.com/archives/2009/oct09/oct19/1014NBCbeefambassadorsnamed.cfm?title=2010%20National%20Beef%20Ambassadors%20announced

(3) The Milk Producers Are Getting Media Training 

Plan For Crisis n And Hope You Won’t Need It

Ag Weekly

By Jane Fyksen, Agri-View Crops Editor
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Producers need to be ready with a “communications toolkit” to deal with bad publicity, warned Opperman, suggesting they “develop key messages.” To do that, think of how you want your farm portrayed in the public eye. Also address frequently asked questions. These are “tough” questions; how would you answer them?

Get some media training, from an organization like the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), Dairy Business Association (DBA) or Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW).

Click on the link to read the complete story.

http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2009/10/14/commodities/dairy/dairy38.txt

(4) College Students With A Cause Are Even Getting Media Training

 Tulane goes to Washington

Students participate in march for gay rights

By Kathleen Weaver | Section: Oct 23rd, 2009 Issues, News, October 23rd Print Edition

Thousands of people participated in the National Equality March Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C. to petition for equality for gay, lesbian and transgender individual 

Freshman Sean Simonson also attended the march. He and other students participated in workshops in conjunction with the march such as the Trevor project, which promotes suicide awareness, and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation media training, which taught students how to effectively communicate their ideas through Web sites and speeches.

“The media training taught us how to best get our message across while still keeping it politically correct,” Simonson said.

Click on the link to read the complete story. 

http://thehullabaloo.com/2009/10/23/tulane-goes-to-washington/

That’s all for now. Keep watching for more media training news, tips and information.

(C) 2009 www.Media-Training.info