Someone asked how the media picks the experts it interviews so I did a little research. Apparently in many if not most cases the experts have promoted themselves to the media. Annie Jennings PR (for Public Relations) has a promotional piece with step-by-step instructions on how you can become the expert that the media interviews the next time there is a breastfeeding story in your newspaper or on your radio or TV. I quote with permission. If you sign up for her Ezine you will get some interesting insight into how stories are put together. Alice Martino Roddy, in Central New York State > How to Create Expert Status for Yourself: > Get the Media's Seal of Approval > You Can Become A Top Expert In Demand! > > 1. Make a list of all of the topics you can discuss along with > subcategorizes. For example, a > Workplace Expert would compile a topic list that included how to deal > with gossip in the > workplace, the dos and don'ts of asking for a raise, workplace > etiquette, tips for traveling > with the boss, harassment, climbing the corporate ladder, handling > burn-out . . . > > 2. Create five talking points for each of the topics you list in #1. > Talking points are statements > in sentence format that present a concept or commentary. Example of > talking points on the > topic of tips for traveling with the boss are: Do not drink alcohol > and if you do, never > become intoxicated or Being on the road with the boss is not a time > to ask for a raise . > Under each talking point create several lines of discussion or > commentary. > > 3. Create a well developed BIO that stacks your most impressive > accomplishments from the top > down. The media will read just enough to convince them that you are > their perfect expert. > Lead with your credentials and education, special areas of expertise, > and follow with > accomplishments or companies you have worked for and any impressive > media you have > obtained. If you need help with your BIO contact Tony Trupiano at > 313.730.0899. > > 4. Develop your contact database in advance. Bacon s Media Directories > offer excellent > information on media contacts (800.972.9252) and Bacon s also has an > online media > database that allows you to create a broadcast email to your selected > group. > > 5. Make contact with your media targets in advance to let them know > you are standing by for > them the next time they need a Workplace Expert. Send your areas of > expertise as identified > in #1, your BIO and your complete contact information including home > and cell phone. > When the media moves, they move FAST! If they cannot find you quickly, > they will call > someone else and you will lose your credibility. > > 6. Become well read. Look for articles in major national newspapers > and magazines that tie > into your area of expertise. TV shows get ideas for programming > everywhere. Once you > spot a national article that you can expand upon or offer commentary > on, you will want to > contact the media using your contact database. Then send your talking > points, bio, phone > numbers, and of course, mention the article or breaking news event to > which you are pegging > your pitch. > > 7. Keep your eye on the news. Anytime there is breaking news that you > can comment on > contact your media database immediately and stand by for their call. > If you are immediately > available for an interview or willing to drop everything and head to a > local TV affiliate for a > segment, let them know this and include your closest major city. > > 8. Watch your target shows and subscribe to your target print media to > learn the types of experts > they have on the show or use in the article. You should also > familiarize yourself with the > interviewer's style or the journalist's work in your area. You always > want to be pitching > next level ideas, not something they just covered. > > 9. Invest in media training. The media loves a well prepared and media > trained guest who > knows how to convey information on the exact topic quickly and > accurately (with no > ummms). You will get one chance to be fabulous! If you are a great > expert that the media > can count on to do a great job, you will be asked back. Ask your media > trainer to train you > on your talking points. Contact Tony Trupiano at 313.730.0899 > (www.effectivemediatraining.com) and he can run you through your > talking points. > > 10. Tape yourself! These tapes are very important in your marketing > strategy and most shows do > not offer a tape service. You can bring a blank tape with you to the > studio and ask the > producer to pop it in for you but you cannot count on this. Ask > several friends and family to > tape the segment for you so you can pick the best quality copy. You > can order a professional > copy from Video Monitoring Service (212.736.2010) and I recommend that > you invest in a > professional tape. Call them immediately, as they only have the > programming available for a > short period to time. > > > Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR is a highly acclaimed national > publicist whose insight and > vision have revolutionized the public relations industry. Annie > created her famous Pay For > Placement Program, a program where clients only pay for secured media > placements. Contact > Annie at 908.281.6201, [log in to unmask], > www.AnnieJenningsPR.com. > > Sign up for our FREE Crash Course In Publicity Ezine at > [log in to unmask] Put > Ezine in subject line. Our Ezine has lots of Media Placements for > you including FREE > Teleseminars, FREE tape offers and special reports plus tips and > strategies for PR Success! > *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html