Piaras Kelly PR - Public Relations in Ireland

One of the hardest thing to explain to people about journalists is that they work to very tight deadlines. When you actively start to engage with the press, you have to be prepared to make time at short notice to speak to a journalist as part of an interview for an article because they’re often too busy working on other stories to wait around for you.

Clients feel uncomfortable because they’re suddenly expected to drop everything and journalists get pushy because their editor is breathing down their neck. Guys like me are stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to accommodate everyone.

As a result, it often feels quite hurried between pitching an interview and subsequently setting it up. Even when editorial calendars are in use and you have a fair idea what is coming done the line, the turnaround time for interviews can be quite tight.

If you want to be quoted regularly in articles then you have to make time for the media. A journalist once told me one the reason why a managing director of one of my client’s competitors is always quoted is because the press know they can pick up the phone and he’ll always be available for comment.

If you are tardy in your response time to media queries or just answer questions when it suits you, then journalists will naturally be less likely to come to you for comment, so don’t get upset when they don’t come knocking at your door.

Technorati Tags: Piaras Kelly, PR, Public Relations