Oliver Hanisch’s Post

📣 Pitch Perfect: How PR Pros Can Get Journalists to Say Yes 👍 While its already four years since the pandemic, the shutdown that followed and the transformation of the office space since changed everything about how we communicate, including how we pitch stories. Newsrooms are smaller, journalists are juggling more, and the competition for attention is fiercer than ever. But one thing hasn’t changed: great stories always win. 💪 Here’s how to pitch like a pro in today’s world: ** Respect journalists’ time. They’re stretched thin and working against tight deadlines, so make sure your pitch is relevant and valuable to their audience. If you can’t answer why their readers would care, rethink it. Key here: Subject lines. Make them engaging and concise! **Focus on the human angle. Data is great, but people connect with stories about people like them. Highlight the struggles, triumphs, or unique perspectives behind the numbers. **Tie your pitch to the moment. Whether it’s a current trend, breaking news, or a timely hook, show why this story matters now. **Personalize every email. Generic pitches are an easy “no.” Take the time to understand the journalist’s beat, reference their recent work, and explain why your story is a good fit. Otherwise, you might as well get a new career. **Build genuine relationships. Journalists aren’t just gatekeepers—they’re collaborators. Share their work, engage with them authentically, and earn their trust over time. 🔔 The Bottom Line: In a world where inboxes are overflowing, thoughtful, well-crafted pitches are what get noticed. Keep it relevant, keep it real, and never underestimate the power of a good story. Good luck! #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #Storytelling #PitchPerfect #PRTips #PostPandemicPR #Journalism #CommunicationMatters #BusinessInsights #LeadershipLessons

Ensuring Accuracy in News and Public Relations In the fast-paced realms of news and public relations, accuracy isn’t just a goal—it’s the cornerstone of trust and credibility. One misstep can damage reputations, diminish audience confidence, and weaken the impact of any message. So, how can professionals ensure their communication is consistently accurate and reliable? 1.Triple-Check Every Fact Accuracy starts with diligence. Verify every piece of information against trusted sources, leaving no room for errors or assumptions. 2.Context Is Key Facts, without context, can mislead. It’s essential to present data, statistics, or statements with the nuance and background that bring clarity to the audience. 3.Transparency Builds Trust Mistakes happen, even to the best. When they do, addressing them promptly and transparently can strengthen credibility rather than erode it. 4.Leverage Expert Collaboration Technical or complex topics require precision. Partnering with specialists ensures accuracy and bolsters confidence in the message. 5.Prioritize Media Literacy The rise of misinformation makes media literacy a critical skill. Teams must be trained to discern credible sources and navigate an information-rich, but often unreliable, digital landscape. 6. Verify Quotes and Interviews A well-placed quote can elevate a story, but only if it’s accurate. Confirming details directly with sources ensures integrity and fosters positive relationships. 7.Focus on Objectivity In a world that often rewards sensationalism, professionals must prioritize factual, unbiased narratives. Long-term credibility is far more valuable than fleeting attention. Accuracy in communication isn’t just a professional obligation—it’s a reflection of integrity and respect for the audience. Those who prioritize precision and authenticity are the ones who build lasting trust and leave a meaningful impact. #PublicRelations #MediaEthics #CredibilityInPR #AccuracyMatters

Are you eyeing an executive role? Knowing how to get your message out in the media spotlight can make your reputation. Three key tips: 1. Don’t dump everything you know. When I was a reporter, I’d ask simple questions and watch people panic, rambling their way into all kinds of unnecessary details. That’s how stories spiral out of control. Stick to your point, speaking to your stakeholders - reporters aren’t looking for a monologue; they’re looking for a quote. 2. Don’t repeat the negatives. If you’re asked a pointed question like, “Did you mislead people about your qualifications?”, don’t answer with: “Did I mislead people about my qualifications? No, I didn’t.” Repeating their negative language only reinforces the wrong idea. Instead, reframe: “My experience has always been presented transparently and reflects why I’m a great fit for this role.” 3. Ditch ‘That’s a good question.’ When I heard this as a reporter, it was a red flag. Either the person wanted me to ask that question (making me dig deeper), or they were buying time to think (which made me more curious). Neither left a good impression. Here's how to avoid executive media slip-ups: - Practice keeping answers tight and to the point. - Learn to say the same thing in different ways, experimenting with word choice and phrasing. - Tune into the emotions behind a question, and redirect with a confident, positive response. - Take a deep breath before you speak. That pause can be the difference between a clear answer and a verbal misstep. Questions? My DM channel is open. Let’s chat. #mediatraining #executivecommunication #publicspeaking #crisismanagement #watchwithpremium

If the spokesperson responds to the media during a crisis, the following positive effects can occur: 1. Builds Trust and Transparency: - Providing clear and accurate information helps to build trust with the public and media, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to transparency and professionalism. 2. Reduces the Spread of Rumors: - A timely and reliable response helps to counteract misinformation and rumors, allowing the organization to control the narrative and provide factual updates. 3. Manages Media Coverage: - Effective communication allows the organization to steer media coverage in a direction that highlights their response and actions, rather than focusing solely on the negative aspects of the crisis. 4. Restores Confidence Quickly: - Consistent and clear communication helps to minimize damage to the organization’s reputation and aids in restoring confidence among stakeholders and the public. 5. Strengthens Media Relationships: - Engaging positively with the media during a crisis can enhance relationships with journalists and media outlets, which may benefit the organization in future interactions. If the spokesperson does not respond to the media during a crisis, the following effects can occur: 1. Spread of Rumors and Misinformation: - Without official information, the media and public may turn to unreliable sources, leading to the spread of false information and rumors that can worsen the crisis. 2. Loss of Trust and Credibility: - The absence of a response can be seen as a lack of transparency, leading to a loss of trust and credibility between the organization and its stakeholders, which can be difficult to rebuild. 3. Negative Media Coverage: - Silence can be interpreted as negligence or an inability to manage the crisis, resulting in negative media coverage that can damage the organization’s reputation further. Effective and timely communication during crises is crucial for managing the situation and maintaining stakeholder trust. ‎‏#PublicRelations ‎‏ #PR ‎‏ #MediaRelations ‎‏ #CrisisManagement ‎‏ #CorporateCommunications ‎‏ #ReputationManagement ‎‏ #StrategicCommunication ‎‏ #BrandManagement ‎‏#MediaStrategy ‎‏ #PRStrategy

| Wednesday Musings | As communications professionals, we've all experienced the frustration of a misunderstood message. The media world is fast-paced, and journalists are constantly juggling deadlines or limited resources. So the gap between our carefully crafted messages and the final published piece can sometimes feel enormous. I believe on solution lies in equipping journalists with communication best practices. By helping them decode press releases, identify core messages, and find reliable sources (that’s us!), we can create strong relationships. This collaboration leads to more accurate and well-rounded reporting. Ultimately, the public benefits by receiving clear, concise, and trustworthy information. So, what training can we offer? Media Relations 101: Demystifying press releases, media kits, and interview requests. Data Storytelling: Empowering journalists to translate complex data into compelling stories. Social Media Savvy: Navigating the ever-shifting social media landscape. We need to move beyond the "us vs. them" mentality and work together and investing in training so we can bridge the communication gap and ensure the public receives the accurate and insightful information it deserves. #linkedintt #mytwocents #mediatraining

When it comes to #earnedmedia, relationships matter. How much is another story. They matter to an extent; after all, this is #mediarelations I’m talking about. But as a reporter for the better part of 20 years, I can tell you relationships only take you so far. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for fostering, cultivating, nurturing relationships but there are limitations. On both sides of the communications coin. Relationships open doors, no question. But before you go knocking you better have your story straight. In fact, back up another step: You better have an exceptional story to tell, differentiation to highlight, innovation to showcase, data to validate it, and a well-trained spokesperson (preferably from the C-suite, depending on the pitch) to offer. Armed with all of that, you’ll find a far more receptive reporter audience if there’s a pre-existing relationship. But make no mistake: If the relationship is great but the story isn’t, you ain’t gettin’ placement. I know a thing or two about this because I spent the better part of 25 years as a reporter, including 7 or so as #CNBC’s Silicon Valley Bureau Chief and national technology correspondent. I deeply valued my relationships with #PR folks, especially the helpful ones who had the assets I detailed above at the ready, who were collaborative, patient, helpful. But this relationship thing goes both ways: I knew PR needed me, but I also recognized and appreciated how much I needed them. Example: I could have a great relationship with someone in PR, but that didn’t automatically mean I was going to score the CEO exclusive I wanted. As a reporter I needed to do my homework too, I needed a good reason that would be something of value to the company broadly and the CEO more specifically. I needed to sell them on the idea that this interview would be a good thing. Much the same way PR professionals need to sell reporters on why a particular pitch is a good thing. Surprise! Relationships go both ways. Which is why one of the most important things I’ve been doing so much of this year is helping companies turn ideas into good pitches, which have a much better chance of becoming great stories. I can tell you that’s harder than it seems. A company’s idea of a good story doesn’t always translate into what a reporter thinks is a good story. Understanding both sides of this comms coin, speaking fluent media and PR, is a hallmark of GoldmanMediaGroup https://lnkd.in/gKVz65rS. And yes, we have some good relationships to tap, too. The way we keep those relationships – and deepen them – is a keen understanding of reporter needs, their outlets, the news cycles, knowing what makes a good story, identifying and providing the necessary building blocks to tell it, and then crafting the pitch to sell it and get it told. If you think we can help, drop us a line!

Don't be shy about investing in the growth of your employees. "...Prospective employees want to work at a company where they see potential for growth and new opportunities. "Investors want to put their money behind a company that's growing. "Clients, customers and prospects want to do business with organizations committed to equitable hiring practices. "Announcing your hiring objectives lets all of these stakeholders know you're investing heavily in your company's most important resource: your people..." (Source: https://lnkd.in/gAr-j8iZ) #brandambassadors #newsworthy #employeenews #employeedevelopment #pr #publicrelations #news #investors #talent #growthopportunities

Is your analyst relations programme driving measurable value? Swipe through to discover how to measure the impact of your AR efforts and prove their contribution to business success. From tracking coverage and mentions to leveraging analyst feedback and linking results to sales growth, we’ve got you covered. Ready to optimise your AR strategy? Read our blog for a deeper dive into these key metrics and get your download link for our full report. The report includes insights on measuring internal comms, PR, social media, analyst relations, and investor relations. #AnalystRelations #B2BMarketing #MetricsThatMatter

"A lawyer who represents themself has a fool for a client." They may know the law like the back of their hand, but they have blind spots. The same is true for medical communications and strategy. When I joined an agency full-time, people of vastly different backgrounds and perspectives—scientists, journalists, PR professionals, business analysts—contributed different views and experiences to build a coherent and effective strategy. But despite the variety of views, the invisible contributions of company culture can limit ideas: shared blind spots. A perspective from outside the company is one tool to illuminate the blind spots in a highly technical field. If you could use an external perspective that comes with scientific expertise, broad experience across therapeutic areas, and communications knowledge, check out Quill Science LLC and get in touch.

Want to see your company's name up in lights? I hate to break it to you but what is an exciting bit of news for you and your company, might not be so exciting to the media titles you want to land in. But, fear not, here's my top three list of what does and doesn't interest the media when it comes to B2B PR in 2024: DOESN'T ❌ 1️⃣ Product updates: unless demonstrating a seriously (and I can't overstate that word enough) revolutionary solution to a major problem 2️⃣ New hires / promotions: ok you can still sneak these into dedicated hiring sections of some titles, but unless you're hiring Jeff Bezos, then the most you can expect is a couple of lines in most titles 3️⃣ New sales / deals: again, unless it's a truly groundbreaking new partnership for its scale and approach, then winning a new customer isn't news - it's just everyday business. DOES ✅ 1️⃣ Data-backed trends: if you can pull together a substantial-enough dataset that demonstrates a new trend or pattern within your industry, the chances are that journalists will jump at the opportunity to publish. Journalists care about novel stories and factual accuracy. Data-led stories achieve both. 2️⃣ Multi-company pitches: journalists are increasingly time poor. If you propose a topic with a quote from your company, they will then need to research and secure several other quotes for balance and further information. That takes time. Make life easier for journalists by teaming up with other companies and spokespeople to expand your pitch into a fuller more coherent story. 3️⃣ News-hacking: it's not that hard to predict news stories. Of course the media will cover things like The State of the Union address, or the UK Government's Autumn Statement. Journalists are always looking for reaction to events like these. Take an educated guess and prepare a written response in advance that you can send to journalists seconds after an event occurs. Do you agree / disagree with these tactics? What have you found helps secure press coverage for your company?