Valentine Media Relations Consulting

09/06/2021

Quick tip for "press conference" style interviews: though it might be tempting to address your responses to everyone present, doing so can make you appear unfocused, scattered, or even afraid. Looking back and forth across the group, whether you are moving your head back and forth or just your eyes, gives the impression of wariness and uncertainty, regardless of how comfortable or sure you are in your message.

Instead, make eye contact with the individual asking the question, attentively listen to the question, and address your response back to that individual. It will make for a better video clip that is more likely to get air time for your message. It will prevent odd audio issues with directional mics. And perhaps most importantly, it will add a sense of confidence, personal intimacy and sincerity to the tone of your message. It is much easier to trust someone who trusts themself.
by avoiding .

08/02/2017

An example of a successful tagline: I just saw this on the side of a panel truck driving by...at first glance, I might have no idea what this company does, but the ideal they profess is one I appreciate, pushing me instinctually to have a more positive mindset towards them.

(For the record, this is from Old Dominion Freight Line).

12/27/2016

Sometimes you may encounter life-threatening situations that call for immediate attention, but that does not eradicate the need for useful, clear, concise and timely messages, as demonstrated in this news story from early 2015 about measles:

http://www.wnem.com/story/28038735/few-students-in-public-schools-not-vaccinated-for-measles

Less than two percent of the students at some of the area's biggest public school districts have not been vaccinated for the measles, but it's nearly 4 percent in the area's largest district.

12/27/2016

Here's another example from 2011 of a midwestern city agency earning coverage with international media as a result of a solid social media campaign:

http://www.upi.com/No-relief-from-deadly-US-heat-wave/83921311252654/

The deadly heat wave that has blanketed most of the United States was expected to last until the weekend, forecasters said Thursday.

12/27/2016

When your business or organization has a reputation for providing clear, helpful and timely response, media outlets will start following you on social media, or calling to ask your opinion, whether you've sent out a formal media release or not.

This news story from the deadly 2011 heat wave demonstrates how a local/City agency can earn national media coverage as a result of a strong social media presence.

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Now_the_Heat_Wave_is_Baking_the_East_Coast_126046338.html

Missouri has reported 13 other possible heat-related deaths, with the youngest victim being a woman in her mid-30s, according to the Kansas City Health Department.

12/27/2016

The attached news story from 2014 demonstrates a difficult situation that must be handled carefully to avoid making a potentially bad situation even worse.

In scary situations like finding that potentially dangerously contaminated food may be for sale in local stores, the public wants to know that officials are both aware of the risk and taking action to protect them. At the same time, you want to make sure you don't throw other potential partners under the bus by feeding into the fears and anxieties that naturally surround these situations.
Keep your message brief, honest and action-oriented. The news reporter and agency will appreciate it, as will the general public.

http://www.inquisitr.com/1301208/mad-cow-disease-outbreak-leads-to-beef-recall/

More than 4,000 pounds of beef were recalled this Wednesday due to the possibility of contaminants in the form of mad cow disease. The possibly infected meat

12/27/2016

After a bit of a hiatus, I plan to dedicate more time and energy to keeping this dream of my own consulting firm alive. Over the next several days, I will post historical news stories to demonstrate the importance of honest communication with members of the media. Whether you are dealing with local, regional, national or international media, respectful, honest and timely responses are vital to building a solid relationship with media agencies, which can be a great asset in getting you message out to your desired audience.

04/22/2016

If you want the media to think of you as their expert of choice, make sure they know who to contact at your organization or business.

http://bit.ly/22Sje8p

Part 14 of the series, Rookie mistakes even the “experts” (sometimes) make. One mistake many larger businesses or organizations make is the failure to designate a consistent media contact. This is …

04/22/2016

If you don't believe what you are saying, why should anyone else?

http://bit.ly/1YJVEcL

Part 13 of the series, Rookie mistakes even the “experts” (sometimes) make. For the sake of your business, it is vital that YOU believe what you are telling the media about your topic of expertise.…

04/03/2016

It's easy to get defensive when your mistakes get publicized in the news, but for the sake of your business, don't.

http://bit.ly/1orsJ0H

Part 12 of the series, Rookie mistakes even the “experts” (sometimes) make. It is frustrating, but it happens. You fight, struggle and grind away at your business, only to encounter a snag when you…

04/02/2016

When telling your story, avoid the common mistake of "spin." Instead, think of how you will "frame" your story, before it has a chance to spin out of control and frame you in a bad light instead.

http://bit.ly/1qobCym

Part 12 of the series, Rookie mistakes even the “experts” (sometimes) make. We’ve all heard the statement, “he (or she) put his own spin on the story.” For years, self-professed experts taught clas…

04/02/2016

Looking for some of the tips we've offered in the past? Check out our "Hot Tips" index at our website!

http://bit.ly/1qo52b0

Rookie mistakes even the “Experts” (sometimes) make – series introduction – Jan. 17, 2016 The non-expert “Expert” – Feb. 7, 2016 The chatty non-spokesperso…