TCIP #034 – Media Relations for Crisis Preparedness with Tom Iovino

Welcome to episode #034 of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast, with Melissa Agnes and Tom Iovino.

As a Public Information Officer (PIO) or spokesperson for an organization, dedicating time to developing real, authentic relationships with reporters is an essential part of, not just your job, but your crisis preparedness. It’s a strategy that takes time, effort and genuine authenticity. It’s also a strategy that can be extremely rewarding in (and out of) a crisis.

Within this episode of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast, Tom Iovino and I discuss the value of media relations for crisis preparedness and provide some best practices for developing mutually beneficial relationships with reporters, bloggers and journalists.

Within this podcast we debunk some myths, outline strategies for approaching reporters and discuss what it is that tends to make reporters so intimidating, allowing you to have a better understanding of their tasks and the pressures they work under. We also discuss some common mistakes that make people appear as though they’re hiding something, even if they aren’t – a mistake you absolutely need to avoid making in a crisis.

This episode of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast discusses:

• Tips for building relationships with reporters and the media.
• The benefits that media relations offer as a crisis preparedness strategy.
• The three words that really mean a lot to a reporter.
• How social media helps – or potentially hinders – opportunities for building relationships with reporters.
• When to consider contacting a news director and the right way to go about doing this.
• Likewise, how reporters can reach out and initiate building relationships with PIOs, spokespeople and PR professionals.

Whether you’re a PIO or the spokesperson for your organization, you’ll find some interesting and useful tactics and best practices within this episode. Enjoy!

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Running time: 1:05:58

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Thanks to Tom for coming back to discuss this important topic with me!