SEPTEMBER
2004 ********************************************
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Article: Developing Good Relations with the Media
News and Announcements
Contact Information
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WELCOME
Hi everyone! The end of September brings to me a crazy whirlwind
time of traveling and speaking engagements. I love it! A topic
of one such presentation is how to develop good relations with
the media. If you are like many professionals, you would like
to have reporters calling you regularly to comment on a story
they are writing and/or ask you to serve as an expert
source. Once you’ve taken the time to get to know a specific
reporter’s beat and style of writing you can contact that
person and offer article ideas and otherwise begin building a
relationship. Read this month’s article for the do’s
and don’ts of developing good relations with the media.
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DEVELOPING GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA
DO return a reporter’s call – preferably within the
hour; if you are unprepared to answer a
reporter’s questions when you first answer the
phone, ask for the deadline, tell the reporter you
will call him/her back and then gather your
thoughts and call back (before the deadline).
DO talk in sound bites and be able to provide
quick and catchy quotes the reporter can use.
DO provide info to the reporter. If you don’t
have the answer to a question, do some checking
and get back to the reporter with something –
a statistic, a quote or another person to call.
DO call the reporter from time to time with tips
and story ideas.
DO give the reporter your cell phone and home
phone number. Be accessible!
DO treat the reporter like a regular person – not as
a sub-human being or as a prima dona.
DON’T ask to review a story before it appears in
print or to have your quotes read back to you. It
will sound like you are trying to control the reporter
and it is insulting. Rather, offer to be available if
the reporter has further questions.
DON’T make the reporter miss a deadline. They live
and die by deadlines. If you promise info by a certain
time, deliver!
DON’T hang up and later call back and ask to have
your comments changed or deleted. This derails the
work the reporter has finished, and undermines your
own credibility.
DON’T argue or get defensive with a reporter.
Remember the reporter has the power to make you
look foolish just by editing your comments in a certain
way.
DON’T say “no comment” if at all possible,
but if you
must, at least offer a reason such as client confidentiality,
explaining why you can’t respond. Newspaper readers
often take “no comment” as an admission of guilt.
At the very least it sounds evasive and uncooperative.
DON’T say something to a reporter that is “off the
record.” Every reporter has his own definition of off the
record and it’s best to clarify what that definition is
BEFORE using it. If you think there is a question about it, tell
the reporter in no uncertain terms that what you are about to
say is not to be published or attributed to you. Generally speaking,
I believe it’s best to never say anything to a reporter
“off the record.” It’s just safer that way.
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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming Speaking Engagements.
On September 30, I’ll be speaking on “Making Rain
Out of Mist: Six Steps to Marketing Your Practice”
at the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Career
Development Conference. The conference will be
held at the Los Angeles Marriott (333 S. Figueroa
Street, Los Angeles) from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. The
event is open to LACBA members and the entire
legal community. Find out more at
http://lacba.expertprosearch.com/lacbacareerfair.
On October 8, I’ll be presenting, “Tom Brokow
Is On Hold: A Media Workshop” at the Association
Of Legal Administrator’s Region 6 Educational
Conference. The conference will be held at the
Century Plaza Hotel & Spa in Los Angeles.
On October 13, I’ll once again be speaking on
How to “Make Rain,” this time at the Oregon
State Bar Career Development Conference.
This conference will be held at the Oregon
Convention Center (777 N.E. Martin Luther
King Jr. Blvd., Portland) from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
“Making Rain Out Of Mist” Program.
You may remember several months ago
when I shared that I was beginning work
on a self-study audio CD and workbook
practice building program to help attorneys
grow their practices. Well, I have been
working diligently on the core workbook
this summer and have finally completed it!
The Making Rain Out of Mist system of
business development is based on a tried
and true program that has helped literally
hundreds of individuals in other industries
dramatically increase their business. I have
customized the program for the legal industry
and I truly believe that this system may make
the difference between having a mediocre
practice and a thriving practice!
I am unveiling the 120-page core workbook at the bar conferences
mentioned above AND to get the buzz going, I’m offering
it at a much discounted price of $29! Of course I will extend
this same offer to my newsletter subscribers so if you are interested
in finding out more about this incredible practice building system,
or wish to purchase the workbook for yourself or a colleague,
call me at 858.566.5585 or email me at Barbara@Rainmaker-Strategies.com.
Booklet Details.
To purchase your copy of my booklet, Business Development: 97
Quick & Easy Tips For Lawyers, go to my web site at www.rainmaker-strategies.com
or send me an email at Barbara@Rainmaker-Strategies.com
and I’ll be happy to process your order. Cost is $5.00 for
a single copy (plus tax where applicable and shipping).
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Barbara Nichols Mencer
Rainmaker Strategies
Barbara@Rainmaker-Strategies.com
www.rainmaker-strategies.com
If you’ve enjoyed this article and learned a valuable
business-building tip, please feel free to forward
this newsletter to your friends and colleagues.
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Copyright 2003, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction
in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
