It’s true: newspapers have less space for news because advertising is down, and fewer people to handle the workload. There are fewer talk/interview shows on the air, as well. A number of print and broadcast media are also demanding “pay for play.” (The pay for play scenario is a very difficult phenomenon to deal with, because the audience doesn’t generally realize what’s going on – and they should know.)

    It doesn’t mean that the traditional media are totally useless – people still pay attention to them -- but it does mean that there’s more demand for available “space.” This means that if you want to improve your chances of coverage, you have to send information in (including interview requests) much earlier than you normally would have in the past.

    It’s also very important to explore how we can use new online/social media effectively -- whether it be websites… podcasts… blogs… e-newsletters… Facebook pages… Linked-In contacts, Twitter accounts, etc. However, be aware that people who know you still have to be able to find out what you’re doing – online or offline.

    Therefore, it’s more critical than ever to maintain up-to-date contact lists. And -- however you choose to communicate, it’s also critical to provide good solid information that your audiences find valuable.

    NOTE: In the next Ask Jane, I would like to explore the use of online/social media. You can expect me to send you a short survey soon, and I will share the results with everyone.