Backgrounders
Reporters have a big job. They have to find interesting stories to publish, stay updated on current events, read all the stories people pitch to them, decide which stories to accept etc, etc. There is a lot that they are involved in because of their job.
They are so busy it is a wonder how they are able to do their jobs so well, most of the time. One big thing that they have to handle is people's stories that are pitched to them. There are many, many people that want publicity and so they will try to get their stories published.
It is a difficult job for reporters to have to read through all their stories and decide which to send. A lot of times they do not even read through them all. If there is not an interesting headline on someone's story, the reporter will not want it because he does not think it would be worth his while to read.
When they do get good stories then they have to find a way to work them into their publication. A lot of times they will have to research the topics and such so that they can produce a good article. If they did not it probably would not be too good.
One thing that a lot of people do to help solve this problem is provide backgrounders for the reporter. A backgrounder is background information. It is information about stories people are trying to get published. Pretty much, it is the research.
This helps our reporters because then they do not have to do the research. It would be a tiring job if they had to research every topic the ever wrote on. They still probably have to do a lot of research, but it makes it easier at least.
Research can be the most tiring part about writing. Once you know the information, you can just whip out an article because it is all in your head. Finding that information is what can sometimes be really tricky.
Some people think that backgrounders are a bad idea. They think that reporters should do the research for themselves and that it is not right to have someone giving it to them. But a lot of other people do not mind.
Something else that backgrounders may be used on is websites. If people have a site about a certain object or on a certain subject, the may provide backgrounders on that object or subject so that people will know exactly what it is the site is talking about.
This is very helpful to people and would make them want to come to your site because they would know that you are going to help them to understand your site. They would like it because they would know that they could come to your site to learn things, not just to buy things etc.
Whether the backgrounder is for a web page or a reporter, it is very helpful to people. They can have the information they need to know, when they need to know it and they do not have to look it up for themselves.
It is not always bad for people to have to do their own research, it is actually very important. But every once and a while if you help them out with it, it would please them. With reporters and editors it may help you to develop a relationship with them if you provide good research.
If you want to read more about backgrounders and public relations you can go to the following links and they just might help you out:
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/tailoring_your_media_kit_to_fit_the_recipient_000004.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/4_tips_on_how_to_post_your_press_release_online_000081.html
