[cma-l] Do you have a good relationship with your local press?

[Michael Fryer]

The most important thing is to work WITH newspapers.
Community Radio and the press should be complementary not adversarial.  If 
you present your item in a newsworthy way, they gain from it and you gain 
from it.  Don't expect favours, but work together professionally.  "It's the 
way you tell 'em!"  If your news is interesting, it'll get printed; if it's 
dreary, it won't.

I've worked successfully with all levels of the press on behalf of two 
different community radio stations.  Only yesterday I had a piece in the 
Northern Echo (the North East region daily newspaper) asking for volunteers 
- I've had four come forward already.
Don't be put off - keep sending your NEWS items - eventually you'll get 
coverage.

My biggest problem has been working with BBC local radio.  This depends so 
very much on the local manager!  I was interviewed on BBC radio about 
community radio and was booked for a further interview.  A new manager took 
over and cancelled the interview, as he thought community radio was a 
threat.

If I can be of help to anyone, please get in touch.

Cheers,
Michael Fryer
Bishop FM
07917 694 588




>From: CMA-L <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>Reply-To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>To: 'CMA-L' <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>Subject: Re: [cma-l] Do you have a good relationship with your local press?
>Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:52:11 +0100
>
>Fwd:
>
>From: Trevor Lockwood <lockwood at btinternet.com>
>
>Our local paper (again part of a large group) declined our offer of a
>weekly slot.
>
>One way forward is to do better than they do: provide better coverage
>of in-depth stories, give access to a wide variety of people and
>organisations - and (if they get really awkward) do a programme about
>local press coverage, full of vox-pop opinions.
>
>They are disturbed by our presence, we are a threat, especially to
>their advertising revenue.
>
>Remember we are part of the media - you have a voice, a platform, use
>it wherever you feel it is needed, and probably the best way is just
>to ignore their existence.
>
>Get on the Clapham omnibus! Power to the People!
>
>Trevor
>--
>http://www.felixstoweradio.co.uk
>http://www.icrfm.co.uk
>
>
>
>
>
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