Find local media contacts

Don’t know who to contact in your area?  To plan your media calls:

• Ask colleagues and other professionals you know about their experiences and contacts.  Obtain names of reporters and editors at specific media outlets.
• Work directly with a public relations/marketing representative in your organization.  They should be keeping a pulse on good contacts, recent coverage, and good story angles and ideas.
• Read the local and national news that relates to your field every day.  Keep a notebook to jot down stories getting attention—and the media and reporter’s name for specific stories.  With the Internet, this is easier to do than ever.
• Use the Internet to look up the number of the media, call and ask for the name of the business editor.
• When you reach an editor or contact, ask for the name, e-mail address and phone extension of the best person to talk to about your topic.  Contact the primary reporter directly.
• If you need help after these steps, contact Mary Murray at the WICPA at mary@wicpa.org.  WICPA has access to media directories that may help you in this process.