Reaching out to media regarding hearing loss prevention, audiology awareness, and the importance of seeing an audiologist has been an exciting and eye-opening experience for our communications firm. Since we began working with the Academy to assist with media relations a few months ago, we have called on media across the country to pitch stories on hearing loss prevention and audiology. Just over the past few months, it has been an amazing and educational task.
Topic(s): Public Awareness, Public Relations Tool Kit, public relations, National Audiology Awareness Month
“Hello, my name is Lois Lane and I’m from the Daily Planet News. We are running a story about hearing loss in superheroes and I would like to interview you. Please return my call as soon as possible.”
You listen to the voice mail message, thrilled that the newspaper has contacted you with an opportunity to promote audiology and hearing health care, yet it has been some time since you reviewed the literature relative to kryptonite ototoxicity and barotraumas. What can an audiologist do to assure a successful interview?
Topic(s): Hearing Aids, Hearing Health Care, Hearing Loss, public relations
As public relations professionals, we encounter mostly two types of clients—those who prefer to ignore media (“if you don’t engage, they can’t write bad information about you”); and those who are fairly lackadaisical about what they say to media, including what they post on social media.
There should be a middle ground, as everyone should have some apprehension in dealing with the press. Media 101 says, “they are reporters, not your friends,” and “nothing is off the record.” Choosing to ignore media calls does not guarantee that you’ll stay out of a news story.
Topic(s): public relations
Often clients ask how much time they should be committing to social media for their business. The answer is that it depends. It depends on your existing demographic audience, as well as your potential target audience.
Topic(s): public relations, Social Media
