Media, Comms & PR Jobs’ Post

Why Pitching Stories to the Media is Important ⬇️ When I worked at the biggest newsroom in Nigeria, I received countless story pitches from individuals, organizations and the general public. Today, I am on the other side of the divide - sending pitches to the media so that vital public health information can reach the British public. Pitches are good, especially if you have figured out it's the most effective way to get media attention. I say this because it’s not every time pitching to the media works or is the best move. Maybe in my next post, I will delve into the factors to consider when choosing to pitch stories to journalists. But today, I just wanted to talk about the importance of pitching stories to journalists. So, here we go: why pitching stories to the media is important. 🚨Pitching stories helps increase the visibility of the organization or brand. By securing media coverage, press officers can ensure that the organization's message reaches a wider audience. 🚨Regularly pitching stories helps establish and maintain strong relationships with journalists and editors. These relationships are crucial for gaining trust and ensuring future stories are considered. 🚨By pitching stories, press officers can control the narrative around their organization. This allows them to highlight positive developments and address negative issues before they become widespread. 🚨Effective pitches can generate public interest and engagement. Interesting and relevant stories are more likely to be picked up by the media, leading to increased public awareness and interaction. 🚨Media coverage can support broader business objectives, such as launching new products, entering new markets, or promoting events. Well-timed and strategic pitches align media exposure with these goals. 🚨During a crisis, timely and accurate pitching can help mitigate negative impacts. By providing journalists with the organization’s perspective and key information, press officers can help manage and control the situation effectively. In conclusion, pitching stories to journalists is an essential practice for any organization looking to enhance its visibility, build robust media relationships, and control its narrative. In my next post, I will delve into the factors to consider when choosing to pitch stories to journalists, offering insights to help your pitches stand out and succeed. For now, consistent and thoughtful media engagement is a cornerstone of effective communication and public relations. #MediaRelations #PublicRelations #StoryPitching #Journalism #MediaCoverage #BrandVisibility #CrisisManagement #MediaEngagement #ContentStrategy #Communications #PressRelations #MediaStrategy #PublicHealthCommunication #EffectiveCommunication #PRTips #MediaOutreach

Anthony Taiti, MAC, MPRSK raises a thought-provoking conversation on the feasibility of journalists stepping into PR roles. 💡 This piece sheds light on prevalent PR misconceptions. The assumption that #journalism automatically equips one for #PR merits scrutiny. Beyond media partnerships, the exploration of ethical integrity, strategic communication and skillset alignment is imperative. Enlightening piece indeed! 🙌 . . . #PRInsights #JournalismToPR #MediaLiteracy #MediaMatters

For a long time, there has been a widespread misconception about what PR is all about, with the most common belief being that it solely revolves around spinning stories and creating media hype. Regrettably, this has given rise to the delusion that journalists, by virtue of their platform, can also undertake PR roles. In the latest issue of Marketing Africa Magazine, I delve into the reasons why organizations should refrain from hiring journalists as their PR managers. I invite you to spare a few minutes to read the article.

Interesting read.

When you create and come from politically unstable countries from a region that had unnecessary war conflicts in which when I started the PRO PR conference there were not even diplomatic relations between foreign nations in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and when I look back today what I did for communications and I am proud of public relations. In recent months, I've been a bit bored because my main topics on LinkedIn are related to the PRO PR Conference and the PRO PR Globe Awards, but I always say if we're not going to give importance to people who create and do good things like me, who should we give it to? We are witnessing constant changes due to technological development. The media is transforming, and journalists and newsrooms are constantly threatened by the challenges of news created by artificial intelligence. The so-called "data" is a challenge for different interest groups, and the representatives of public relations management and their advisors are not always in the zone that ensures secure access to their mobile devices where this data is also located. How to communicate and interpret data, and create a narrative that is acceptable in space? How do brands see themselves in the space of different target groups, and consumers, and how do they use public relations tools and techniques today? These are just some of the topics that will be discussed at the conference. I am proud that perseverance has brought me to a leadership position. For the first time, we have a lecturer from Iran, and we will also talk about the unavoidable topic of environmental, social, and corporate governance, the so-called ESG (Environment, social, and governance). Thank you to everyone who recognized the conference program, and thank you to the lecturers who will come and share their knowledge so that they can be even better at what we do. Charles Skinner, FCIPR, James Hewes, Borislav Miljanovic, Aida Salkić, Mina Nazari, Natan Edelsburg, Alicia Matilda Lubrani, Simona Kruhar Gaberšček, Nadja Lutvikadic-Fočo, Ranko Jelaca, Marija Kojčić, Boris Zatezalo, Jelena Gavrilovic Šarenac, Mary Beth West, APR, FPRCA, Dustin Chick, Rafael Llopis Martínez, Jonny Bentwood, Natasa Trslic Stambak, Tamara Bekcic, Christoph Plate, Bence Gáspár, Jernej Smisl, Aleksander Truppel Ilić, Natasa Pavlovic Bujas, A Erić, Eleonora Albijanic, Aslıhan Güven, Samo Gaberscek, Zikica Milosevic, Nenad Danilovic, Edhem Fočo, Maja Rakovic, Marko Andrejić, Srdan Kosovic, Matej Loncaric, Biljana Stepanovic

Today within the People of AFSA campaign we publish the story of the Head of Public Relations and Communications Division of AFSA Gulnara Mukhanova. "I started to work in AIFC in 2016 and am proud of being one of the first people here to have participated in the process of establishing a new jurisdiction. Having more than 10 years of experience in journalism (print, television, radio) I moved to in-house public relations and communications in 2008, joining the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, after I worked in the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I have been working in the AIFC for 7 years now. I headed the public communications department in the AIFC Authority, when we had to start everything from scratch and build relations with external stakeholders, among them the media and other organisations. As AIFC bodies and organisations appeared, our department also coordinated the work of PR services within AIFC in order to speak with one voice. Over the past two years, I have been working in a financial regulator, where our main task is building and strengthening positive, favorable and transparent image of AFSA. Our efforts are aimed at making communications for AFSA transparent, efficient and business friendly. We deal with content development and information disclosure. We divide our communications into internal and external. External communications cover building relationships with the media, which are also local, regional, and those that cover our region in Central Asia and the CIS, as well as internationally recognised media that specialise in the economic and financial areas and highly specialised fields such as Islamic finance and crypto. Interaction with partners and with participants is also very important for us, since thanks to joint projects we may increase the awareness of our financial centre and the regulator’s explanatory work on the Acts that we adopt, preparing, and realising promotion plans for targeted markets and media. Additionally, we are also actively involved in organising forums and conferences. For example, we hold our own regulatory forum at Astana Finance Days conference. This Forum includes several sessions, and we are responsible for determining topics, selecting speakers, and, of course, ensuring media coverage. Anti-crisis communications are very important for us, since we are a regulator, and more than 2,000 companies are already registered in the AIFC. We constantly monitor the media market, issuing warnings to consumers and promptly responding to information threats. The message from AFSA is for consumers to be careful, and only invest with authorised firms that are appropriately regulated by AFSA. All measures taken by our division show how important the role of PR and communications is in the activities of a financial regulator."

I have read and reread your article but, still can't understand what PR is, what it entails and why it requires special training or even why a company needs a PR manager. Beyond asserting that a PR manager ought be part of an organization's management and "strategic" architecture, l am still struggling to understand how PR is not about image and image creation and manipulation. What is PR if not propaganda, disinformation, misinformation and public manipulation? That way it shares alot with journalism given that all literature, information and strategy is propaganda. But because of what it is PR can be the enemy of journalism when it seeks to erase and embellish facts, a thing journalists know quite well and are capable of.

If you're tired of using traditional methods to promote your business, then look no further. Reaching journalists directly through email distribution lists can only do so much to elevate your brand's profile. And with social media algorithms constantly changing, relying solely on posts and ads might not cut it either. There has to be something else out there that guarantees your message is seen by decision-makers who matter most. Enter our press release distribution service. We specialize in amplifying client news to top-tier reporters throughout Africa via a vast network of media contacts. By choosing our press release distribution, you secure more than just technical content delivery to recipients. Our team has developed deep relationships with industry journalists spanning decades, which translates into optimized coverage for your company. Your message gets heard loud and clear amongst industry heavyweights. Imagine achieving high-level media mentions in renowned publications that once seemed unattainable. Not only does your reputation skyrocket among peers and competitors alike, but you also acquire coveted credibility and trustworthiness in front of consumers. If maximum ROI for every penny spent sounds appealing, let us demonstrate why working with us sets you apart from the rest. Begin transforming your dreams into tangible milestones with just one click away. Say goodbye to hit-and-miss marketing approaches. Click the link bit.ly/3KQgOpv to sign up for our complimentary consultation, where we'll discuss your specific goals, evaluate past successes (or shortcomings) of existing PR strategies, and identify areas requiring improvement. #yourafricanvoice #pressrelease #africa #publicrelations