How to Thank a Reporter Who Covered Your Press Release

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You wake up one day and check your local newspaper. Lo and behold, right there on the first page, is a news story based on your press release! After all these many years a friendly reporter did you a solid and covered your announcement. So how do you go about thanking them? Send them flowers? Take them to a fancy dinner?

While those would be nice, there are better ways out there you can help them. Like…

Promote Their Work

One of the best ways to thank a reporter is to promote the heck out of their newspaper (or magazine, or blog or…) The only way they get more business is by more readers, and often the only way they get more readers is through word of mouth. This is especially true today considering how fast the world seems to be running from traditional media!

Pulling Hair

So get out there and thank them by telling the world all about the reporter’s place of business. Even more importantly, tell the world about the reporter themselves! It’s a boost not only to their self esteem but to their resume and possibly their pay grade. What better way to thank them by possibly getting them more money?

Become a (Reliable) Source

Since the reporter helped you with your company’s story by getting it in the paper, you can return the favor by helping them with future stories. Not just about yourself, mind you. Becoming a source and reference point for the reporter can be extremely valuable, to both parties.

Call the reporter up after the press release is printed and thank them. Then, mention you would like to help them in the future with anything. Tell them what your area of expertise is. The next a story comes up and they need a quote or a source, they’ll think of you. Now, not only did you have a story in the paper, you’re now getting repeat business.

This is a particularly beneficial situation to both parties involved. They get help with their huge workload and busy schedule, and you and your company get more coverage than you probably bargained for.

How have you thanked a reporter who covered your press release? Share below.

This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (https://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. Grab your free 160-page copy of the Big Press Release Book – Press Releases for Every Occasion and Industry here: https://www.ereleases.com/free-offer/big-press-release-samples-book/

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As a veteran reporter now working PR, I’m appalled by this column and would warn PR people NOT to heed its advice. It is ludicrous. It is neither appropriate nor realistic for any PR person to try to boost a publication’s circulation (much less to think they can get someone a raise or a promotion). To even think like this is arrogant, dangerous, and self-defeating.

Of course if the story is really good, promoting it is appropriate, for your own sake – and reporters in many cases will be quite pleased to see their pieces touted on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and/or company websites.

But to actually say “thank you,” the only dignified way is pretty old-fashioned and simple: send a VERY SHORT note that says something like, nice story, we appreciate the coverage, always here to help. Beyond that, you’re making a fool of yourself and making the reporter squirm – the exact opposite of what your goal should be.

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I have to agree with Marion. When I was a reporter, anything more than a “nice piece, thanks for the coverage,” made me wince. It made me think the PR person thought we were now on the same team, which wasn’t true. I wanted to be clear there was a line between me and the PR people because I didn’t want them to think that as much as I appreciated their help today, I may still have to write a story someday that reflects badly on their organization. Now that I’m in PR, I want to maintain a distance with reporters for that same reason. Too profuse a thank you might comes across as blurring the lines in our professional relationship.

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I have to agree with Marion. Having spent 25 years as a TV reporter/anchor before going over to the “dark side,” a PR person who went beyond a brief note of appreciation for the coverage was somewhat suspect – someone you tended to avoid.
If a reporter gets something wrong in a story, I try to approach them with the attitude of here are some inaccuracies that you probably want to correct if you do a recut, rewrite or follow-up. Educate them rather than chew them out.

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I wholeheartedly agree with the comment above. If I remember back to my days being a journalist I’d have considered this post’s methods of thanks as a warning to avoid the PR person in question at all costs.

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Tom,

what do you mean by telling, “Now that I’m in PR, I want to maintain a distance with reporters for that same reason.”

Excuse me in advance for may be a little bit strange question. I’m a native Russian, that’s why I did catch your idea properly, sorry for that.

I understand your position as being a reporter, but I don’t understand your point of view as being a PR specialist. Why now being a PR manager do you have to keep distance between yourself and reporters/journalists?

Also, for what reason should a PR person have to write a story that reflects badly on any reporter? Could you give me an example?

Thank you.

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I really liked your blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.

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I agree with most of the comments above. It’s probably better to avoid thanking them. As non-human as that may sound, a journalist is going to turned off by a thank you in my opinion. If anything, just a short “thanks for featuring X in your story. Feel free to directly reach out to me if you need a source for any future stories on X subject matter.”

Reply

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