The best way to reach reporters is to let them know you’re on their side. Simply stated, when you help people, they help you.

You want to do everything you can to make their life easy. Offer story ideas, first thing in the morning because reporters are going into morning meetings saying things like, “Geeze, what am I going to go in with? I have no story ideas.”

What would it be like for them, if they came in, listened to their voice mail message, and they heard Joe Blow saying, “Hey, Mary. I saw in the newspaper today this incredible story and I’m an industry expert on this. I would love to talk to you about that.”

A lot of times, that’s exactly how stories get on the air. It gets thrown out there, and 12 people go, “Hmm. I never really thought about that. Maybe we should do that. Why don’t you call that person?”

Learn more at How to Get on Local TV News Tomorrow.