1. Spreading your Message
Press Skills 101
By: Amani Channel

2. Media Matters

3. 24hrs

4. Feed the Beast
A Day in the Life….
• Scan the headlines
• Make beat calls
• Morning meeting 8:30am
• Assigned Story
• Set up shoot/head to location/ENG (electronic news
gathering)
• News at Noon
• Continue ENG
• Write/Voice/Edit
• 5pm/6pm news

5. What Makes News?
• New information/Good stories
• Proximity
• Visuals
• Unusual
• Celebrity
• Political Significance
• Crime/Violence/War
• Controversy/Scandal
• Good Will/Service

6. Get Covered
• Expert interview
• Eye witness/MOS
• Involved with the story
• Media covers your pitch

7. Pitching the Media
• Research outlets
• Build relationships
• Have a well thought out pitch or story
• Build a pitch list
• Craft a press release/media alert
• Pitch: Phone, email, in person

9. Journalists vs PR
• Journos want the story
• PR wants the messaging/mention
• Journos ask the questions
• PR keeps to talking points
• Journos want the truth
• PR wants their truth

10. When the Media Calls
• Be available
• Look/Dress professional
• Expect to be asked anything
• Speak in sound bites (broadcast)

11. When Controversy Strikes
• Don’t duck the media
• Don’t say no comment
• Consult with legal counsel/written statement
• Self produce statement/YouTube

12. How to Connect
• Atlanta Press Club
• Atlanta Association of Black Journalists
• Society of Professional Journalists
• Public Relations Society of America (GA Chapter)

13. Remember
• Reporters are always looking for good stories
• Be helpful
• Understand the game
• Visual/Compelling/Interesting stories get covered
• Relationships are key

14. Thanks NLC Atlanta!!
Amani Channel
www.visualeyemedia.com
www.webvideochefs.com
(404) 213-2121