For many years, I used to prepare my local radio show using information I found in newspapers, television shows I watched and stories I learned from my friends. This was many years before the home computer and the world wide web. For many years, the traditional media employed similar methods to locate and source content for their respective operations.
In case you have not noticed, we are not in Kansas anymore!
You do not have to wait for content to be delivered to you via radio, television or newspaper. We have rapidly become reliant on the high speed access to content at our fingertips.
You want pizza delivery, order online from their website.
You want to find a review from last nights concert that was not in the newspaper, check to see what your friends are saying on Facebook.
You want to find if your friend arrived home safely, send them a text message.
Social Media is the 'mothership' for local content. Social media has empowered each and every user with the ability to communicate and broadcast a message without time or editorial restrictions like traditional media. I agree there is a lot of content being published on social media that I constitute as rubbish, but one persons trash is another persons gold. And just like traditional media, we have the ability to flip the page or change the channel if we find something we are not interested in.
Am I suggesting that the new on-line Social media will replace all current forms of media and make radio, television and newspaper extinct? No.
The new on-line media is creating interesting new challenges for traditional media but they, too, are faced with a unique opportunity for rebirth and continued life.
Imagine; your 'daily newspaper' delivered fresh to your desktop or smart phone but instead of just one paper, you are able to view many real time updates from news organizations you have preselected. This is a reality.
Imagine; your favorite radio station not only plays what you want but creates on-line engagement by responding and reacting to topics being published by their fans (like you) on Facebook or Twitter. This is a reality.
Imagine; you can contribute a story to the television news by recording a video on your smart phone from a local community event and emailing it to the television station. This is a reality.
Traditional media outlets are looking for new ways to find engagement with their audience. Might I suggest taking a serious look at the impact of social media. There appears to be a lot of engaged people around the world...all broadcasting and rebroadcasting local content each and every day.
Social Media = two words
Social - to create two-way communication
Media - the ability to broadcast to the masses
-Darren
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Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Hey media, Look over here! Tips to building Media Relations
12,000 fire victims receive warm Christmas dinner.
That grabbed your attention.
A strong headline is necessary to grab the attention of the media and the public, but you first have to grab the attention of the media to help you reach the public.
Building strong Media Relations
1) Who are you
It is very important to first know who you are, the product you offer and who is your target audience. From here, create a media strategy that will enable you to reach your consumer.
2) Know your Media options
Take a look at all the media organizations in your community, or if you are a national company, look at all your global media options. What media operations connect with your target audience? Take your time and do your research on this one. Media trends are rapidly changing and you need to be on top of these changes to effectively engage your audience.
3) Media contacts
In addition to knowing who to contact to place an advertising order with your local media outlets, it is also important to get to know who is in charge of content. News Directors, News Editors, Program Directors; these are all people you should reach out and network with. You can usually find their contact information on their company website or try a simple phone call to the main switchboard. Politely explain who you are and who you are trying to reach.
4) Offer something unique
Armed with your list of media contacts, give them a reason to contact you or become interested in your company and your product. Are you a specialist that could provide useful comment and content for their media operation? This is something that is unique to them and provides you with an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your local media.
5) Leave them wanting more
If your company is launching a brand new product or service during a splashy media blitz, launch with your well planned statements, graphs, pictures and presentations. The key; less is more. Leave the media wanting more. To ensure the media has as much background and information about your launch, it is also wise to present them with printed documentation to support your company, product and/or services. Be sure each 'media kit' also includes a contact name and information along with a web site address.
6) Do not give up
Building a strong relationship with media is just like real life relationship building - it takes time. Be patient. Do not be offended if you have not received a returned phone call or email immediately after you first make contact with your media list. Have you seen the Kevin Costner movie "Field of Dreams"? Remember the famous line; If you build it, they will come. If you have something they (the media) can use, they will contact you.
To receive more tips and consultation on how to use the media more effectively, please contact me directly.
-Darren
That grabbed your attention.
A strong headline is necessary to grab the attention of the media and the public, but you first have to grab the attention of the media to help you reach the public.
Building strong Media Relations
1) Who are you
It is very important to first know who you are, the product you offer and who is your target audience. From here, create a media strategy that will enable you to reach your consumer.
2) Know your Media options
Take a look at all the media organizations in your community, or if you are a national company, look at all your global media options. What media operations connect with your target audience? Take your time and do your research on this one. Media trends are rapidly changing and you need to be on top of these changes to effectively engage your audience.
3) Media contacts
In addition to knowing who to contact to place an advertising order with your local media outlets, it is also important to get to know who is in charge of content. News Directors, News Editors, Program Directors; these are all people you should reach out and network with. You can usually find their contact information on their company website or try a simple phone call to the main switchboard. Politely explain who you are and who you are trying to reach.
4) Offer something unique
Armed with your list of media contacts, give them a reason to contact you or become interested in your company and your product. Are you a specialist that could provide useful comment and content for their media operation? This is something that is unique to them and provides you with an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your local media.
5) Leave them wanting more
If your company is launching a brand new product or service during a splashy media blitz, launch with your well planned statements, graphs, pictures and presentations. The key; less is more. Leave the media wanting more. To ensure the media has as much background and information about your launch, it is also wise to present them with printed documentation to support your company, product and/or services. Be sure each 'media kit' also includes a contact name and information along with a web site address.
6) Do not give up
Building a strong relationship with media is just like real life relationship building - it takes time. Be patient. Do not be offended if you have not received a returned phone call or email immediately after you first make contact with your media list. Have you seen the Kevin Costner movie "Field of Dreams"? Remember the famous line; If you build it, they will come. If you have something they (the media) can use, they will contact you.
To receive more tips and consultation on how to use the media more effectively, please contact me directly.
-Darren
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Where has all the good news gone?
Surely there must be something good to talk about in the world today, or have we become trained by the media to read and hear only bad news?
When I say bad news, I am referring to stories about people losing their jobs, soldiers being killed, people dying in natural disasters, and even celebrity mishaps.
Sadly, the truth is; bad news is very effective for media. Bad news grabs the attention of readers, listeners and viewers to every media stream and it that creates revenue and ratings.
Where does that leave the good news? Media is looking for these stories - they just need a little help finding this content. That is where you come in.
Traditional media operations around the Globe are running with fewer and fewer staff members which means fewer people who are able to spend time sorting through all of the potential news stories of the day. As a result, some of the good news stories end up as trash because they either did not meet the criteria of that media operator or they simply ran out of time and resources.
In the online world, there are limitless opportunities to broadcast these good news stories. On your website, blog, video blog, email, and all the social media sites.
While I am not suggesting to turn your back on traditional media and create your own on-line media empire (which some are already predicting this outcome), use the tools available to you to broadcast your good news stories and share with the traditional media outlets. Engaging content no matter the source is always going to be engaging content. Create a reason for others to take notice and we will get to enjoy a little good news today.
Enjoy.
-Darren
Sign up to receive my free email newsletter with many helpful media tips.
When I say bad news, I am referring to stories about people losing their jobs, soldiers being killed, people dying in natural disasters, and even celebrity mishaps.
Sadly, the truth is; bad news is very effective for media. Bad news grabs the attention of readers, listeners and viewers to every media stream and it that creates revenue and ratings.
Where does that leave the good news? Media is looking for these stories - they just need a little help finding this content. That is where you come in.
Traditional media operations around the Globe are running with fewer and fewer staff members which means fewer people who are able to spend time sorting through all of the potential news stories of the day. As a result, some of the good news stories end up as trash because they either did not meet the criteria of that media operator or they simply ran out of time and resources.
In the online world, there are limitless opportunities to broadcast these good news stories. On your website, blog, video blog, email, and all the social media sites.
While I am not suggesting to turn your back on traditional media and create your own on-line media empire (which some are already predicting this outcome), use the tools available to you to broadcast your good news stories and share with the traditional media outlets. Engaging content no matter the source is always going to be engaging content. Create a reason for others to take notice and we will get to enjoy a little good news today.
Enjoy.
-Darren
Sign up to receive my free email newsletter with many helpful media tips.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
6 steps to creating engaging content for Social Media
What is the best way to engage people to your social media updates? Simple. Offer something that is real.
In my 25 years in radio both on the air and as a manager and coach, it was my job to create interesting content for my listeners. Each day prior to a 5 or 6 hour shift, I would spend approximately 2 hours to prepare my show with relevant information. And where do you suppose I gathered this information? By spending more time reading newspapers, watching TV shows, listening to the other radio stations and paying attention to what my friends and society were talking about.
The same principles should apply to you when you are preparing to post content on your social media sites.
Here are 5 easy steps to think about in the creation of engaging content for your sites.
1) "What's in it for me?". Think of content that reflects the wants and needs of the reader - not of yourself.
2) Celebrate your successes. Go ahead, brag about a success story but remember point number one just above; it is not all about you...there has to be a pay off for the reader.
3) Be current and relevant. Talk about your favorite television show or favorite newspaper columnist. It demonstrates that you are plugged-in to the real world.
4) Talk about other people. In radio we called this a 'shout-out'. Mention people you met today in person or online. Use their online name (for Twitter).
5) Be real. Your close friends know the real you. Now here is your opportunity for the online world to get to know the real you as well. Talk about things that matter in your personal life.
Here is one more.
6) Never be boring. A good friend and mentor named Valerie Geller has been coaching top media talent around the globe for years. This one point has always resonated with me and with the thousands of personalities that she has worked with. Never be boring.
Did you find these tips helpful? Once you employ even a few of these suggestions, I am sure your readers will find you more engaging and will return to your website, blog or social media site more often.
-Darren
Would you like to receive more helpful tips on communicating with the Media? Click here to receive my free email newsletter.
In my 25 years in radio both on the air and as a manager and coach, it was my job to create interesting content for my listeners. Each day prior to a 5 or 6 hour shift, I would spend approximately 2 hours to prepare my show with relevant information. And where do you suppose I gathered this information? By spending more time reading newspapers, watching TV shows, listening to the other radio stations and paying attention to what my friends and society were talking about.
The same principles should apply to you when you are preparing to post content on your social media sites.
Here are 5 easy steps to think about in the creation of engaging content for your sites.
1) "What's in it for me?". Think of content that reflects the wants and needs of the reader - not of yourself.
2) Celebrate your successes. Go ahead, brag about a success story but remember point number one just above; it is not all about you...there has to be a pay off for the reader.
3) Be current and relevant. Talk about your favorite television show or favorite newspaper columnist. It demonstrates that you are plugged-in to the real world.
4) Talk about other people. In radio we called this a 'shout-out'. Mention people you met today in person or online. Use their online name (for Twitter).
5) Be real. Your close friends know the real you. Now here is your opportunity for the online world to get to know the real you as well. Talk about things that matter in your personal life.
Here is one more.
6) Never be boring. A good friend and mentor named Valerie Geller has been coaching top media talent around the globe for years. This one point has always resonated with me and with the thousands of personalities that she has worked with. Never be boring.
Did you find these tips helpful? Once you employ even a few of these suggestions, I am sure your readers will find you more engaging and will return to your website, blog or social media site more often.
-Darren
Would you like to receive more helpful tips on communicating with the Media? Click here to receive my free email newsletter.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Are you engaging or on autopilot?
Greg Johnson is a Radio Programmer in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I have had the pleasure of working with Greg and have experienced his dedication and witnessed his creative mind. While this article was originally written for the benefit of Radio broadcasters, it has many applications for just about every employee of every industry, big or small.
Here is his article.
As I flew home the other day from Edmonton, Westjet reinforced some of the fundamentals of radio that have been preached since Marconi.
The BASICS.
The flight attendant came over the intercom - blasé and monotone (think Eeyore) - and delivered the spiel. You know: how to do up your seatbelt, how to suck oxygen in case of an emergency. As an attendant she's delivered that spiel 1001 times this week alone. But wait. What if I had been flying for the first time? I would have never heard the spiel before, and the information would be very informative and compelling. Plus, there were some new jokes that I hadn't heard before (something about turning off your electronic devices: cell phones, lap tops, George Foreman Grills). But, with her less than upbeat delivery, she glossed over all her jokes and the humour fell flat.
If you sound bored - you ARE boring. When they do the safety spiel, we think "blah blah blah". Listen to how it's delivered. There is no emotion. No attempt to make it sparkle ... therefore I'm making no attempt to listen. Think there's no way to make the safety spiel interesting?
What are you doing to make the basics leap through the radio? Make them count. Traffic & Weather. Time & Temp. Station ID and your Name. You'll deliver it endless times throughout your show. Are you blasting through them or giving the Basics their due? Someone has just gotten into their vehicle and is hearing it for the first time. Make it sound like you're saying it for the first time. That Rappin' Flight Attendant clip? Might have been the first time you've seen it. Betcha he's been doing that for 3 flights / day for months. But he delivered it like the first time.
Quite honestly, no one is worth listening to if they don't sound like they're having fun.
Don't LIE.
The weather was awful. Snow, slush & wind. I expected delays. All the Departure boards projected "On Time". The Captain made no mention of delays. When it came time to de-ice the plane, the Captain came over the intercom and said, "This should only take 10 minutes". Problem is, it didn't. It took 40 minutes. BIG DIFFERENCE. And not only did he lie about the time frame, there was no update on what the hold up was until after we were making our way to the runway.
If you're going to do something on the show, then DO IT. You are making a promise to the listener. Saying "a couple of minutes" or "in a bit" is not only vague, but has different meanings to different people. "@ 7:40" or "in 10 minutes" is concrete.
The other point is immediacy. The pilot is my information source. As passengers we were visibly agitated, and the pilot made no attempt to update us on our status. In radio, we are the eyes and ears - and we have the ability to provide up-to-the-second information. Don't ignore the needs of our "passengers". "Air Canada" is only a couple dial positions away.
Sometimes We Need to Be SERIOUS.
The Pilots introduced themselves as "Neil & Matt at the front of the plane". Call me old fashioned, but I'd at least like to know that it's "Captain Neil and Co-Pilot Matt in the cockpit". "Hey everyone it's Neil & Matt" … they sound like the new design team on HGTV. It irked me that the pilot was joking around. Was he going to do some rolls and loops in the sky?
Sometimes we need to be serious, human and sincere. Amber Alert … stick to the script. River Break 2009 … flooding is not funny. Ask Manitoba. Know your role in certain situations. People will come to us for serious information and a quick joy buzzer gag could kill all credibility.
If you went to see a new doctor and he came into the examination room and said, "Hey there -- I'm Rick!" … I doubt you'd even stick around to hear the glove snap.
Don't Be THAT Guy Who Reclines His Seat.
I'm sure I could find some radio analogy here … but the truth is planes are packing us in and we ain't getting any thinner. If you recline, you're a prick. I only wish I had my 2 year old with me to kick your seat for the entire flight.
Greg Johnson
Program Director
COUNTRY 93.3 / ROCK 97.9
Fort McMurray, AB
w. 780.743.2246
f. 780.791.7250
greg.johnson@rci.rogers.com
Thank you Greg.
-Darren
Here is his article.
As I flew home the other day from Edmonton, Westjet reinforced some of the fundamentals of radio that have been preached since Marconi.
The BASICS.
The flight attendant came over the intercom - blasé and monotone (think Eeyore) - and delivered the spiel. You know: how to do up your seatbelt, how to suck oxygen in case of an emergency. As an attendant she's delivered that spiel 1001 times this week alone. But wait. What if I had been flying for the first time? I would have never heard the spiel before, and the information would be very informative and compelling. Plus, there were some new jokes that I hadn't heard before (something about turning off your electronic devices: cell phones, lap tops, George Foreman Grills). But, with her less than upbeat delivery, she glossed over all her jokes and the humour fell flat.
If you sound bored - you ARE boring. When they do the safety spiel, we think "blah blah blah". Listen to how it's delivered. There is no emotion. No attempt to make it sparkle ... therefore I'm making no attempt to listen. Think there's no way to make the safety spiel interesting?
What are you doing to make the basics leap through the radio? Make them count. Traffic & Weather. Time & Temp. Station ID and your Name. You'll deliver it endless times throughout your show. Are you blasting through them or giving the Basics their due? Someone has just gotten into their vehicle and is hearing it for the first time. Make it sound like you're saying it for the first time. That Rappin' Flight Attendant clip? Might have been the first time you've seen it. Betcha he's been doing that for 3 flights / day for months. But he delivered it like the first time.
Quite honestly, no one is worth listening to if they don't sound like they're having fun.
Don't LIE.
The weather was awful. Snow, slush & wind. I expected delays. All the Departure boards projected "On Time". The Captain made no mention of delays. When it came time to de-ice the plane, the Captain came over the intercom and said, "This should only take 10 minutes". Problem is, it didn't. It took 40 minutes. BIG DIFFERENCE. And not only did he lie about the time frame, there was no update on what the hold up was until after we were making our way to the runway.
If you're going to do something on the show, then DO IT. You are making a promise to the listener. Saying "a couple of minutes" or "in a bit" is not only vague, but has different meanings to different people. "@ 7:40" or "in 10 minutes" is concrete.
The other point is immediacy. The pilot is my information source. As passengers we were visibly agitated, and the pilot made no attempt to update us on our status. In radio, we are the eyes and ears - and we have the ability to provide up-to-the-second information. Don't ignore the needs of our "passengers". "Air Canada" is only a couple dial positions away.
Sometimes We Need to Be SERIOUS.
The Pilots introduced themselves as "Neil & Matt at the front of the plane". Call me old fashioned, but I'd at least like to know that it's "Captain Neil and Co-Pilot Matt in the cockpit". "Hey everyone it's Neil & Matt" … they sound like the new design team on HGTV. It irked me that the pilot was joking around. Was he going to do some rolls and loops in the sky?
Sometimes we need to be serious, human and sincere. Amber Alert … stick to the script. River Break 2009 … flooding is not funny. Ask Manitoba. Know your role in certain situations. People will come to us for serious information and a quick joy buzzer gag could kill all credibility.
If you went to see a new doctor and he came into the examination room and said, "Hey there -- I'm Rick!" … I doubt you'd even stick around to hear the glove snap.
Don't Be THAT Guy Who Reclines His Seat.
I'm sure I could find some radio analogy here … but the truth is planes are packing us in and we ain't getting any thinner. If you recline, you're a prick. I only wish I had my 2 year old with me to kick your seat for the entire flight.
Greg Johnson
Program Director
COUNTRY 93.3 / ROCK 97.9
Fort McMurray, AB
w. 780.743.2246
f. 780.791.7250
greg.johnson@rci.rogers.com
Thank you Greg.
-Darren
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