1. 0 TV is Americans’ Main Source of News (Gallup July ‘13) Thinking about various sources of news available today, what would you say is your main source of news about current events in the U.S. and around the world? TV55% Internet21% Print9% Radio6% Word of mouth/don’t follow the news3% TV still wins easily despite age and education differences

2. Story-telling – it’s all about emotion! 1 NEW dramatic solution Public issue Visual Characters Real situation PROBLEM! For TV especially – layer it on -Invite the mayor or county executive -Tie in another issue (e.g. job creation) -Involve other groups if you can -Center it on sympathetic, emotional character -Do it in the morning – but allow for multiple opportunities

3. Five media relations tips 1.Be a news junkie Piggyback on trends, notice what’s news, follow bylines 2. Build media relationships Go see them, ask what they want, be a resource, attend a TV news meeting, be part of trend stories 3. Don’t just send news releases Find a forcing event or something new happening; have a “quality conversation” 4. Know how media operates and how to talk to them Do everything in the a.m.; everything is last-minute; plain English, have a message, keep it short 5. Leverage your successes Links are fair game; with smaller pubs you can often reprint free 2