Is there something in your industry to which you have access, or to which you can speak, that might be considered unusual to the average person? If yes, you may be sitting on a media goldmine.
This week alone, we’ve seen and heard of story opportunities that are a bit out of the ordinary, but could be great for the right expert and company. For example, ABC’s Chris Cuomo sent out a Tweet on Tuesday that said: Can I buy a rocket launcher? Online? Over the phone? On the cheap? If it can be done, it will be on ABC’s World News, with Diane Sawyer. (Hint: we’ve said it before; we’ll say it again – start following key media outlets to see what they’re covering. Want a shortcut? Follow our media list on Twitter @PRTakeoff/media). If you are a security expert, this could be an opportunity to get in touch directly with Chris Cuomo to help with the story by discussing whether the ability to buy a rocket launcher does, in fact, exist, and to position yourself as the expert to speak on this topic.
Another quirky example came through one of our producer friends at a national entertainment broadcast outlet. She posted on Facebook to ask if anyone had access to a car simulator. This could be a great angle for a racing instructor, track, automotive manufacturer, virtual reality creator, among many others.
And with the success of Avatar, a story appeared in MSN Slate this week about how 3-D glasses get recycled. It included some of the companies that currently manufacture 3D glasses, and their methods for recycling. This ties-in not only with the topical news of Avatar’s success, but is also a connection with the media’s ongoing coverage of “going green.”
Wacky headlines and stories appear every day. So how can you capitalize on this? Think about what you may have access to in your industry, and how it might be deemed as unusual. Then, figure out a timely connection to things that are happening in the news already (e.g., the rocket launcher likely will be tied to a story about possible global security issues, something that is frequently being covered in the news). Finally, craft your pitch and get your own wacky and wonderful story in the news.
Tags: Jet set tips, news media, pr takeoff, publicity ideas, Regina Novickis, Stacey Johnes, Takeoff Tips, unconventional stories