{"id":4127,"date":"2019-01-28T13:33:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-28T13:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.5wpr.com\/new\/?p=4127"},"modified":"2020-11-19T16:58:35","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T16:58:35","slug":"social-media-journalist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.5wpr.com\/new\/social-media-journalist\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Social Media to Connect with Journalists"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days, it seems like social media is standing in as an assignment editor for many different media outlets. Tune in to just about any cable show and, sooner than later, you will hear or see Twitter or Facebook or Instagram mentioned. But, does that mean the rules for contacting media sources on social media have shifted? Have we entered an era in which connecting with a journalist on social media is acceptable as a best practice?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer to that question is \u201cyes and no.\u201d While, yes, it can be acceptable to communicate with a journalist on social media, there are a few guidelines that you may want to consider if you want to be more effective in your efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Try Another Method First<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, you probably should not introduce yourself to a journalist over social media. Unless the journalist has specifically requested that people pitch them on social media, initiating a meeting on that forum can feel a bit invasive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many cases, people still separate their public and private lives, even on social media. While some journalists would be fine with a source reaching out on Twitter or Facebook, others would not, so every time you try without knowing for sure, you\u2019re rolling the dice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, work through standard channels first. Email and call. Submit a release, or show up and ask for an appointment. These are better ways to initiate the relationship. However, there could be exceptions to this rule. If you are working on a time-sensitive story in this journalist\u2019s wheelhouse, they may see a social media message as beneficial. But, remember, this is on an extremely case by case basis in a specific context.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Options Shift as Trust Grows<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have established a working connection with the journalist, you can broach the question of media preferences in good faith. They are more likely to give you a nuanced answer if they already trust you as a valuable and reliable source. Once through those initial contacts, you may find that the journalist will establish more varied preferences. But, again, let them take the lead on this. Don\u2019t make assumptions, or your message may be missed or discarded.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Be Casual but Careful<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media is, by its very nature, a more casual communication environment. But that doesn\u2019t mean there are no expectations. Study how the journalist interacts on the forum and match their style, always striving to err on the side of professional rather than casual. That said, social media can be a forum for boldness and warmth. Go for safe humor. Study the journalist\u2019s feed or page and look for communication connection points.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Don\u2019t Forget the Fundamentals<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the end, remember, that any contact with a journalist or other opinion maker is not just about a single story or only one release. It\u2019s about nurturing a relationship and building trust. Respect and tact, professionalism, go a long way toward establishing that connection and making it work for both of the parties involved. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These days, it seems like social media is standing in as an assignment editor for many different media outlets. Tune in to just about any cable show and, sooner than &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[94,19,13,194],"tags":[228,158,250,53,169,48,32,206,276],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>Using Social Media to Connect with Journalists | 5W PR Agency Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These days, it seems like social media is standing in as an assignment editor for many different media outlets. 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