A news alert is an announcement sent to the media letting them know about your organization or its activities that may be worth covering. A well-crafted alert can capture the attention of journalists and producers and lead to meaningful coverage on television, in newspapers and in magazines.
Getting mentioned in the media is a great way to build your reputation and get more customers. Using social intelligence tools like Google Alerts, you can set up notifications for your brand name, competitors, industry keywords and more to stay on top of what’s being said about you.
If you have a local client, like an historic preservation group or the local kennel that buys your pet food and supplies, it’s helpful to keep in touch about their progress. It can help you offer the best service and be there when they need you.
A media alert (also known as a news advisory) is shorter and more focused than a full press release, typically only providing the essential details of an event or initiative. A media alert should answer what reporters call the “five Ws”: who, what, when, where and why, aiming to pique the interest of the media and encourage them to cover your event or initiative.
A media alert should be sent to journalists in your local area, as well as the wire services that frequently produce daybooks of newsworthy events. It’s also a good idea to provide contact information for one person from the chapter so reporters can follow up on questions or request more details.
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