How to Become a Media Relations Representative
Media relations representatives are people who connect those seeking publicity with the media. People who hire media specialists are seeking publicity on the radio, television, Internet, or in print publications. The client's goal is to receive publicity so she can build a brand or name recognition in order to make money or promote a cause. This article will tell you how to become a media relations representative.
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Instructions
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Get the Skills You Need
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Hone your skills. Media relations specialists are good communicators and good writers. Joining an organization such as Toastmasters International, which helps to develop public speaking skills, will help. A variety of people join Toastmasters International, so you are sure to make some great contacts and friends by joining. To get training as a writer or to strengthen your writing skills, you can take writing classes, available at most community colleges. Some schools have courses that are focused on publicity writing. Classes for marketing, advertising, public relations, or media relations are best. A communications degree or a degree in public relations from a four-year university will help you to become more marketable as a media relations specialist.
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Make contacts. Clients who hire media relations specialists want people with contacts in the media. Professional organizations that you may want to join in order to meet journalists include the National Press Club, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Go to organization meetings and to conferences to make as many contacts as you can. Make your own business cards and get business cards from others.
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Volunteer. Your first clients may be non-paying clients. These clients will help you build your reputation in the field. Volunteer to publicize an event for a charitable organization. These organizations are always looking for people to help. You can help promote a non-profit event by getting an event placed in a local newspaper or, better yet, getting a publication to cover an event and write about it. Your contacts may come in handy when you are trying to get a writer to publicize an event. Email some of the journalists that you have met through professional organizations. It’s better to email rather than call, because journalists are usually working on tight deadlines, and may not have time to talk on the phone, but they can read and respond to a short email.
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Write press releases and short articles for your non-profit clients that can be easily read and tell people why it’s important to attend the event or support the non-profit organization. You need to tell people who, what, when, where, why, how much it costs, and how to contact you for more information.
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Try to get publicity for at least four or five events by volunteering. You will build a reputation. Join the Public Relations Society of America. It’s a large organization of people in the public relations industry. Collect the press releases and any flyers or advertisements that you have produced and place the best ones in a portfolio. Now, all you have to do is make business cards and apply for media relations positions that you may find on the Internet on job boards, in newspapers, and through word of mouth.
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