So you want to meet a journalist. Why in God's name would you want ...
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
So you want to meet a journalist. Why in God’s name would you want to do that? By Thomas Wheatley, Atlanta Magazine
Really, why do you? We are slovenly, socially awkward creatures who spend our days writing stories, researching issues, and avoiding phone calls from that person who has this really really good story but never delivers. We find some time to live our lives. In between all of that, however, we read reports. We love reports backed with facts and data.
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2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
And that’s what you do. Auditing is important. It holds governments and entities accountable. And you have access to data that we desperately want. 3
And your audits get results.
4
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Here’s how.
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First step: - Who do you read? Who is the reporter or journalist in your community who seems to give a damn?
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2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Make contact. Reputable publications have a contact page. Reach out to the reporter. If not the reporter, then the editor. Look for the reporter in public meetings. If you see them, say hello. Introduce yourself. If you’ve read their work, tell them. We like hearing that because, like you, we want our work to get noticed. 7
You’re “on the record.” There is no real definition for what this means. So it’s best to always ask a reporter what their definition is. Be clear when you go on and off. Whether you decide to go “off the record” with a reporter is up to you. If the reporter is worth a damn, they will respect this agreement. Our reputations and integrity are all we really have. 8
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
We will need help understanding your audit. We will require some patience. We will appreciate this very much. 9
Stay in touch. Let us know what audits are in the works and when they’re being released. We want to be timely. It helps if we can see the report beforehand. Embargos are controversial in journalism but they exist. If you want to, you can become a “source.” Maybe you don’t. Your call. If you do...
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2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Protect yourself. Consider using PGP privacy software. Or go the “flowerpot on the fire escape” route. Meet in person. In a garage.
11
And don’t be surprised... If we don’t end up writing about your audit. This is especially true for smaller governments and towns or newsrooms that are short-staffed, which is pretty much every newsroom in today’s media environment.
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2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
In sum We’re human beings. And your audits can be gold to us because they’re public reports, using public data, and about public problems.
➔ Reach out because we might be too busy to do so.
➔ Be open. ➔
Be careful.
13
How to get in touch [email protected]
@thomaswheatley
706-296-2813
14
So you want to meet a journalist. Why in God’s name would you want to do that? By Thomas Wheatley, Atlanta Magazine
Really, why do you? We are slovenly, socially awkward creatures who spend our days writing stories, researching issues, and avoiding phone calls from that person who has this really really good story but never delivers. We find some time to live our lives. In between all of that, however, we read reports. We love reports backed with facts and data.
2
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
And that’s what you do. Auditing is important. It holds governments and entities accountable. And you have access to data that we desperately want. 3
And your audits get results.
4
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Here’s how.
5
First step: - Who do you read? Who is the reporter or journalist in your community who seems to give a damn?
6
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Make contact. Reputable publications have a contact page. Reach out to the reporter. If not the reporter, then the editor. Look for the reporter in public meetings. If you see them, say hello. Introduce yourself. If you’ve read their work, tell them. We like hearing that because, like you, we want our work to get noticed. 7
You’re “on the record.” There is no real definition for what this means. So it’s best to always ask a reporter what their definition is. Be clear when you go on and off. Whether you decide to go “off the record” with a reporter is up to you. If the reporter is worth a damn, they will respect this agreement. Our reputations and integrity are all we really have. 8
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
We will need help understanding your audit. We will require some patience. We will appreciate this very much. 9
Stay in touch. Let us know what audits are in the works and when they’re being released. We want to be timely. It helps if we can see the report beforehand. Embargos are controversial in journalism but they exist. If you want to, you can become a “source.” Maybe you don’t. Your call. If you do...
10
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
Protect yourself. Consider using PGP privacy software. Or go the “flowerpot on the fire escape” route. Meet in person. In a garage.
11
And don’t be surprised... If we don’t end up writing about your audit. This is especially true for smaller governments and towns or newsrooms that are short-staffed, which is pretty much every newsroom in today’s media environment.
12
2017 ALGA Annual Conference CS#3. Signal Through the Noise: How to Land on the Media’s Radar
In sum We’re human beings. And your audits can be gold to us because they’re public reports, using public data, and about public problems.
➔ Reach out because we might be too busy to do so.
➔ Be open. ➔
Be careful.
13
How to get in touch [email protected]
@thomaswheatley
706-296-2813
14
