With the arrival of summer, many professionals go into vacation mode, but what about your press relations? Do you have to put everything off until autumn? In this post, we share our summer media best practices, because yes, summer is good for PR (but not just any old PR).
Where are the journalists?
Like most people, journalists take vacations. While some of them enjoy the poolside, they usually make way for other colleagues to cover their area of the news. It's worth identifying and familiarizing yourself with the replacements on duty in the various media - TV, print and radio - to avoid being hit by a flood of absence messages.
A lighter, more positive flavor
During the summer, the pace slows down and new policies and other " current news Summer" leaves a gap to be filled in the media agenda. Journalists are on the lookout for interesting stories all year round, but summer brings a breath of fresh air and plenty of opportunities to introduce novelty into their research. More inclined to turn to innovative and positive stories, this is your chance to offer unique angles and captivating summer events that will grab their attention.
It's also true that summer can be a time of relatively low public interest, due to the vacations and summer leisure activities. But that doesn't mean your message will get lost in the shuffle! On the contrary, this is precisely the time when you can stand out because of your unusual subject, while adopting a light, friendly tone conducive to discovery.
Falling into the water
But there's one element that's all too often underestimated, and that plays a crucial role: the weather. A daily topic of discussion among holidaymakers, it also influences media coverage. Even if Mother Nature is unpredictable, stay on top of predictions, especially when your public activities and media events are scheduled outdoors - otherwise they could literally fall through! Always have a Plan B that's sheltered from the elements. The same goes for your news: good news has competition on sunny days.
In short, in summer, we need to adapt the angle of our news and know how to position ourselves quickly. Opportunities abound, but you need to be ready to seize them and have the right people to advise and support you in your PR efforts. On that note, happy summer!
