When Your Reporter Changes Jobs

It happens all the time. You’ve finally established a relationship with THE reporter on your beat at one of THE top media outlets. And just as you’re about to pat yourself on the back, he changes jobs.

Doph! Now what?

Heads Up
Determine why the reporter is moving on. Your approach will differ depending on whether she landed a promotion, changed publications, switched beats or simply “left” (read: quit or was let go).

Hand Off
If Elvis hasn’t left the building yet, get his new contact information and ask if he can send a note to his replacement introducing you. While this does not guarantee anything, it does help vet you as a source.

Follow Them
Follow the reporter to her new gig and keep in touch. Her new job/publication/beat may not align with your media focus. Will one of your colleagues benefit from an introduction? Give their contact information to your reporter –- assuming you trust your colleague as a source.

Start Over
Even if you have a great handoff from the previous reporter, you are starting over and need to create a profile of your new contact. Start by reading some of his previous articles. USA Today and The New York Times eliminate the need for you to wade through search results with articles indexed by reporter.

Unrelated Bonus Tip The Associated Press makes it easy to locate reporters by beat. The far right hand column of the Contact page on their site serves up the reporters on every beat with phone numbers.

Exacting search tools and enhanced media outlet sites like the ones above make it easier than ever to be well-studied on your beat reporter. Media job moves can be frustrating. But handled with diplomacy and expediency, they should build your network of contacts.

goodbye vancouver uploaded by I am not donut
tags | media relations | media | good pitch | bad pitch | bad pitch blog