Identifying Reporters
Media lists
Developing a current, accurate media list is the first key to gaining media coverage. Make a list of the reporters, editors, and departments in your state’s newspapers and broadcast stations that focus on your organization’s priority issues and are likely to use your organization’s news. Include contact names, phone and fax numbers and, if available, e-mail addresses for all the media outlets in your area or state. The information below will help you get started.
Knowing whom to call is a basic key to getting covered by the media!
Identifying Print Reporters
- Familiarize yourself with local outlets and papers. Review daily papers, prominent weekly outlets, and appropriate community papers. Take the time to locate reporters’ or editors’ bylines on articles and editorials that deal with women’s issues.
- Use media directories. Several companies publish media directories with details about every outlet in your city, county, and state (print and broadcast). You can find directories at bookstores, libraries, and college communications departments.
- Make calls. Call each newspaper on your list and ask for the name, phone, and fax numbers of reporters responsible for covering civil rights issues. Also obtain the information for the political reporter, editorial page editor, metro or city editor, and the photo editor.
- Keep your list current. Turnover can be high in the news business, and reporters covering the issues on your list may change frequently. Make calls quarterly to review and update your media list.
Identifying Reporters at Television Stations
When making your list of television stations, be sure to include not only network stations, but also local cable and independent stations with news programs. Although a station’s anchors are on each day, the people behind the scenes decide what should be covered, and who will report on the story.
Contact each station on your list and ask for the following:
- News director and assignment editor. They determine the value of an incoming news idea, and if it is worthy, make an assignment to have an issue or event covered.
- Reporters. As with newspapers, the reporters who cover politics as well as civil rights will want to know what you are planning.
- Producers for relevant programs. Many stations feature a public affairs talk show. The producers for this program decide what and whom the programs will cover.
Identifying Reporters at Radio Stations
Radio stations offer some of the best opportunities for coverage, so be sure to include AM and FM stations that feature local news programming in your media list. Radio stations in larger markets offer two good mechanisms for coverage: news, especially during commuter “drive time,” and talk shows. For each larger radio station, identify the news director, reporters, and producers. Call the stations early in the morning. Avoid calling them on the hour or half-hour since they are often doing live news shows then.
