Effective Media Relations for the Water Industry

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What the water industry needs to know about effective media relations so that the public knows and understands what they're paying for

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Effective Media Relations forthe Water/Wastewater Industry

Brian GongolDJ Gongol & Associates, Inc.

March 2013

Why we communicateWhy we communicate

Why we communicateWhy we communicate

EmergenciesEmergenciesRates, fees, and regulationsRates, fees, and regulationsGoodwillGoodwill

It happens more than you might thinkIt happens more than you might think

How the news media see NebraskaHow the news media see Nebraska

"Gotcha" journalism doesn't work here"Gotcha" journalism doesn't work here

Journalism: High Pressure, Low ResourcesJournalism: High Pressure, Low Resources

Tell a story or someone will tell it for youTell a story or someone will tell it for you

The Internet is like a party-line phoneThe Internet is like a party-line phone

Rumors can spread at lightning speedRumors can spread at lightning speed

You can't force anyone to fact-checkYou can't force anyone to fact-check

It costs almost nothing to organizeIt costs almost nothing to organize

Fear builds swiftly - calm takes timeFear builds swiftly - calm takes time

Build relationships before emergenciesBuild relationships before emergencies

There are many concurrent news cyclesThere are many concurrent news cycles

ForthrightnessForthrightness

HonestyHonesty

AccuracyAccuracy

AccessibilityAccessibility

Nobody likes a beggarNobody likes a beggar

Beggars get ignoredBeggars get ignored

Givers get attentionGivers get attention

Always respond immediatelyAlways respond immediately

The story will happen with or without youThe story will happen with or without you

The story will happen with or without youThe story will happen with or without you

“could not be reachedfor comment”

Be available when nobody else isBe available when nobody else is

Offer novel stories to coverOffer novel stories to cover

Journalists love to win awardsJournalists love to win awards

Personalize the story whenever you canPersonalize the story whenever you can

Expect to be condensed and summarizedExpect to be condensed and summarized

Impressions matter as much as factsImpressions matter as much as facts

Education takes time and patienceEducation takes time and patience

Education isn't advocacyEducation isn't advocacy

Fear will always be a powerful motivatorFear will always be a powerful motivator

You can only lead a parade from the frontYou can only lead a parade from the front

Questions to answerQuestions to answer

Have you established media rapport?Have you established media rapport?

Who is your public face?Who is your public face?

Who is your emergency point of contact?Who is your emergency point of contact?

How quickly can you be found online?How quickly can you be found online?

Can you quickly update your website?Can you quickly update your website?

Do you have at least one backup?Do you have at least one backup?

515-223-4144brian@gongol.net

Call anytime

Brian GongolDJ Gongol & Associates, Inc.

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