With continual deadlines, the media are always under pressure to gather information and sources for their stories (while often juggling multiple stories and deadlines at the same time). The media depend on a great source or two to help them with each story.
As a source, there are some simple things you can do to make their job easier and more efficient and become a sought-after source.
1. Meet deadlines
Stories have deadlines. Getting all the research done and finding sources and images on time can be stressful for the media. Be a reliable source and provide requested information in a timely fashion, ahead of the deadline.
2. Use white space
When pitching or responding to the media via email or written document, use short paragraphs and lots of white space. It makes it easier to read your content and reduces eye strain. This is especially welcome as journalists read a lot of documents and emails.
3. Use identifiable file names on photos
Rather than labeling your photo ‘headshot.jpg’ when submitting it to the media, use ‘yourname_headshot.jpg’. That way, it can easily be identified when they are compiling your story and they can avoid unnecessary time needed to double check who is in the photo, and thereby avoid errors.
4. Don’t ask for updates
While it’s tempting to want to get updates on a pending story you have contributed to, don’t ask for updates, and don’t ask when a story will run.
It’s unreasonable to expect the media to let you know when your story gets published. The media are stretched thin already and don’t appreciate your ‘just checking in’ or making requests.
Instead, set a Google Alert, and monitor the media so that you know when your story is live.
5. Share stories and credit the journalist
Share stories on social media, and tag the journalist, not just the outlet. Journalists rely on social media for publishing and promoting their own content.
You can help them get more visibility by promoting their work and helping them reach a wider audience.
6. Secure image rights
If you are offering or providing photos to accompany your story, secure the image rights and provide them to the journalist. This saves them the time and trouble of having to do this themselves.
By asking yourself, how can I be a better source, you are not just thinking about how you can get more publicity, but you are becoming a more valued asset.
“You can have everything in life that you want if you just help other people get what they want,” said motivational speaker Zig Ziglar stated.
Being a great source is a win-win. You can make a journalist’s demanding job less stressful, and you can have the satisfaction of helping them do their job more easily while gaining media coverage for yourself.
Being easy to work with is a desirable reputation to have. It can also make you the media’s go-to resource — they might just begin to seek you out for upcoming stories.
This article first appeared on Muckrack.com