Media & PR

Guide to dealing with media

Dealing with media or creating a press release? Here are some tips to help.

• News is ‘new’ ‘unique’ ‘never achieved before’ ‘faster’ ‘bigger’. It is not standard operations such as extended trading hours or a new website
• Media are busy so have all your information ready before you contact them
• Provide clearly written materials without errors
• Name photos with your company name and the names of people or machines
• Ensure photos are high resolution and crisp and clear with a clean background
• Only send out a release when you are available to speak to the media

Writing a media release

• The first sentence should outline of the story
• Put the most important information in the first paragraphs
• Answer the following questions; what/who/how/why/where/when
• Use plain language. Don’t use industry jargon and technical terms
• Put a date on the release
• Include your contact details – mobile and email
• Numbers, dollars and percentages are good. Quantify your information by adding
  the value of sales, cost of development, expected turnover. If commerical
  sensitivies mean you can’t use $ figures talk about % changes

Dunedin Positive Press How To Guide

• Always have someone else read and check the release before you send it
• Try and keep your information to one A4 page
• Try and include a quote and ensure you include the name of the organisation and
  persons position/title