Create Media Coverage for an Award

Getting media attention for an award is vital. That’s why you should know how to invite journalists to your event and how to organize media coverage for an award that will be mutually beneficial. At least once in your life, you have probably received a written invitation as a result of someone else’s media coverage. That was probably a great experience. Likewise, you should discover things you can also do to get media attention and promote your event in the best way possible.

How to get media attention for an award

It’s true that promotion is one of the most important reasons for inviting media to provide media coverage for your event. What kind of meeting will it be? It’s up to you to choose, and this will determine how you should prepare for it. When and where will it take place? Who’s going to be invited? All of that matters. Before you start, make a checklist of things you can do to get media attention:

• Create a media plan
• Create a press list
• Create a message
• Write an invitation press release
• Contact journalists
• Send out invitations, etc.

Whatever items your checklist contains, stick to it while writing invitation letters for press coverage and making other preparations, and it will save you time and effort.

Tips on how to take full advantage of the media presence

Before the event

Before the event, send out several mailings as further reminders about the event. Many PR agents send out the same material several times, although this is not necessarily the best method. Ideally, the first announcement of the event is sent out. Then a comment is added or statistics are attached in the second newsletter or the press release. In the third newsletter, you can write short descriptions of the speakers, which can be utilised at your event as well.

Before you even have someone interested in the event, a media invitation to cover the award should be issued to all media representatives. This must be printed on your letterhead and not exceed one page. This letter should indicate what the event is, who is holding it, what it is dedicated to, who will take part in it, where it will take place, etc. If necessary, submit the required accreditation conditions. If your event venue needs to be googled, attach a map to the invitation and a description of how to get there and what to look for.

• Avoid impersonal communication. Address your announcement to the editor-in-chief or the editor of the relevant department (news, business life, etc). Be sure to leave information concerning the contact person responsible for the event so that the media representative can contact him or her directly if necessary.

Also make the announcement on specialized media sites or on social media. Create pitches, write interesting announcements, and attach photos, and do not forget to indicate contacts. You can also post materials or articles written by you concerning the event.

During the event

Become a journalist for one night. Think from their perspective. Watch the media representatives you’ve invited, and make notes. The material you provide must be useful for the media you cooperate with. Provide them with at least one news item and an interview. Naturally, photos and videos are also worth taking.

Of course, it is ideal to provide a separate folder for each media outlet you agree to cooperate with, but if there are many of them, a portfolio with the publication materials and the event resume will be enough for everyone. Avoid direct advertising; the text should be as similar to a regular publication as possible.

• Sometimes the media accepts a press invitation and comes to the event even with a weak news story if there is an interesting speaker at a press conference. Use this trick to attract the wanted media.

A buffet, tasting, gifts, or a banquet will also encourage the press to attend. In addition, when the person is given a good invitation and likes the event, he or she will write about it in a positive light. It would not be amiss to offer guests something new and interesting, such as a photo booth.

After the event

After the event, you need to follow up. For all media, create a post release with the outcome of the event. The most significant quotes of the speakers should be included, the conference should be summed up, and information on any future plans should be included. This material should be sent to all journalists as quickly as possible.

• You may also send a case study to those journalists who did not attend. They may not have been able to get to your event, but this will not prevent journalists from publishing information about it. Specify the name of the author of the study, positioning him or her as an expert in the field.

It is ideal to start following up before the end of the event, when all the most important experts have already spoken. Together with the post-release, distribute the speakers’ speeches (if you have them recorded) and photos.

Conclusion

Perhaps every PR manager or event organizer has faced difficulties when it is necessary to attract the press to the event and organize the media coverage. It is difficult to do when the media or the company, speaker, or anyone else related to the event is not very interested in coming.

The media is often much more interested in covering the general trends of the market, industry, etc. In this regard, mini-surveys among the customers, suppliers, partners, etc., should be conducted before the event. Just ask them a series of questions about the problems. The results may be beautifully designed in a presentation, case study, press release, or any other form that is more attractive to journalists.

Learn some effective ways to lure the media to your event and how to request media coverage for an award and manage it in the most suitable way and with mutual benefits.

Feel free to use the top 20 tools for awards management online or register to get some professional online awards management help on how to get media coverage for an event from Judgify. Good luck!