Tips for Professors To Build Relationships with Journalists
Dr. Sheena Howard
Academic Branding Consultant | Ghostwriter for Celebrities, CEOs and Non-Profits | Professor of Communication
In this article you’ll learn 6 Tips for Professors To Build Relationships with Journalists.
When it comes to connecting your research work to society and building a professional reputation, healthy relationships with journalists can be of great use. Professors need to understand that there will be many opportunities to fail and succeed in working with journalists.
Engaging with media is an art and most academics don’t realize the potential of media as they mainly depend upon publicists and conventional channels to promote their work. They tend to avoid cultivating relationships with journalists due to different communication challenges. That’s where mentorship and guidance play a pivotal role.
Power Your Research- Program for Professors
Power Your Research is a 9-step system for tenured professors where I assist professors with increased media presence and authority. I have seen many talented professors not getting the right attention and recognition from the relevant stakeholders. My system is exclusively developed to help professors overcome challenges and increase their authority in the relevant communities.
How to Cultivate Relationships with Journalists?
These are insights from a seasoned mentor who has guided numerous academics towards successful media engagement. My practical strategies have already helped many tenured professors elevate their presence and authority in the media sphere.
6. Understanding Journalists
Journalists have strict responsibilities and they have to pitch their producers with interesting stories and updates that will grab users’ attention. Media outlets tend to ignore quite important events if these stories are not going to drive views and social shares.
There are not many academic journalists left in the modern media world. Journalists are usually on tight deadlines and if you are in contact with one, make yourself available. Try responding within minutes because your unavailability will force them to move to the next source.
5. Give them what they need
Having a compelling hook can lead to a successful collaboration. Explain what makes your research work relevant to the journalist’s audience. Making a compelling pitch needs expertise and I can help you with establishing professional connections in the media outlets. My clients have already been mentioned by top media outlets for exceptional research projects.
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Journalists are more likely to show interest in topics that are evergreen so be careful with the selection of your work for the media. Be clear be your authentic self and be part of your own story. Human connections are important to grab attention.
4. Work on Addressing the Broad Audience
Talking to journalists is somehow different from lecturing students or other professionals from the education field. Most journalists at the event may have little or no knowledge of your field. You need to work on distilling key points for the regional journalists. Keep it simple yet authentic.
Professors are not trained for these interactions and they also tend to ignore the importance of media training. Power Your Research system focuses on personalized media training where I teach my clients to communicate confidently and in a nontechnical way.
3. Respect Rules and Roles
In a broader view, both researchers and journalists have the same responsibility, educating the public. However, professors and media personnel have different ways of achieving this goal. Reporters may ask hard questions but researchers also need to maintain objectivity to cultivate relationships. For a successful collaboration, both parties need to understand and respect their roles.
2. Respect Deadlines
If your connection is a success and the media outlet has agreed to offer coverage for your research work, it is your duty to respect the deadlines. Failing to meet deadlines can strain your relationship with journalists and may result in missed opportunities for media coverage.
1. Follow up Appropriately
Once the interview is done and you have provided the needed information and data, stay in touch with the relevant person. They might require further assistance or resources and you should be available in that case. However, be mindful not to be overly persistent or intrusive.
How do I Connect with Journalists?
There are different ways to connect with the journalists who might be interested in your research. Your college communication team might help you with these collaborations but this rarely works. At Power Your Research, I not only offer complete guidance and mentorship related to building a personal brand as a tenured professor but also help you with potential collaborations with reputed journalists.
Book your complimentary consultation now and boost your career with better opportunities and a media presence. Every phase of the system brings you closer to career goals and the media limelight.
CEO & Social Media Copywriter at C. Writes Agency | Keynote Speaker | Digital Marketing Strategist | Amplifying Brand Visibility & Driving Online Engagement
2moYour consistency in publishing quality content is admirable and commendable, Dr.