There are various tools used in Public Relations to communicate with target audience like Press Conference, Press briefing, Round table discussions, Editors’ meeting, one to one interactions etc. To do all this we need to work with one parallel industry called Journalism. However, getting things done through a journalist is not so easy. Here are 22 tips on how to get sarted on how to influence journalists and maintain positive relations with them:

1. Beat Journalist: Know your beat journalist. Also find the alternative person as there are two journalists working on the same or alternative beat. Keep their contact details handy as it provides easy and quick access to them.

2. Knowledge: Make sure that you have enough knowledge of your client and also have relevant information of the respective industry. Do your homework well before pitching a story or talking to them regarding your client.

3. Deadlines: Respect their deadlines and try to provide the required inputs on time. It helps a lot to create a reputation as a responsible person. Try to understand that they are also reporting to editors and have to meet deadlines.

4. Personal Details: Try and find the personal details like likes, dislikes, education, and professional experience. It helps in knowing them better and also helps in making their profiles. Organizations nowadays are very keen in journalists’ profiles.

5. Sharing Information: One can be very close to the journalist but never share any official information off the record. Agency or the client might suffer in one way or other. Always request journalist to send a requirement mail for any query.

6. Stay in touch: Call your beat journalists at least once a day. If possible add them to your chat messengers. It gives a personal touch.

7. Meeting with Journalist: Meet with beat journalist at least once a week. It can be professional or personal meeting. Discuss various spheres of the industry they are working on. Do not force them to be in conversation if they are not interested, it might irritate them.

8. Maintain the Gap: Professionally journalists are very sensitive. They should not feel that you are unnecessarily interfering in their work. Don’t use abusive words even if they are very friendly with you.

9. Never say NO: Sometime journalists might ask you for such information which is not available at that time (or your client CANNOT share it). Never say no to them. Always ask them for sometime. Discuss with your seniors and client and then revert back. Always ask for their deadlines as it helps you to provide inputs accordingly.

10. Off the beat: Here we can have two categories:

o Journalist left your beat: When a journalist shift from your respective beat or shift from one organization to another. Be in touch with them. You never know when they might be useful for you.

o Journalist never on your beat: Sometimes we develop relations with those journalists who are never on our respective beat. There is no harm in maintaining relations with them.

11. Movements: Keep a track on their movement like shifting from one organization to another. It could be internal shifting of beats or if they are getting promoted. Try to be the first one to congrats them. Best way is to write a congratulations mail.

12. Show Gratitude: Always call up or write a thanks giving mail when they have done something for you. It shows professional ethics.

13. Read their stories: Keep on reading stories and if possible discuss it with them. It enhances your industry knowledge.

14. Timings: Respect their timings. Journalists work till late in the night. Do not disturb them when they are busy filing the stories.

15. Occasional Greetings: Do not forget to wish them on various occasions like anniversaries, festivals etc.

16. Maintain your Calm: Journalists are mostly in bad mood due to stressful deadlines. They might shout at you even if you are not at fault. Maintain you calm and try to understand the situation. Never reply back rudely.

17. Lack of Information: Do not go to them again and again if you don’t have anything to share professionally. It gives a negative impression of you as an agency and your client.

18. Journalists’ Friends: Journalist has their own official friend circle. Get yourself introduced with them. It helps in building professional network.

19. Position: Do not discriminate on journalists’ position. Even a trainee correspondent might become a senior correspondent in another organization (With a span of time).

20. Press Conference: Most of the time we meet journalist for the first time at a press conference. This is the best way to get in touch with them. Be friendly but also be professional.

21. Discussion: Discuss the current happenings in various industries. Check if they are planning any stories on the same. Also check if your clients can provide the inputs.

22. Don’t show irritation: Sometime journalists irritate people very much by demanding gifts and other items. Do not show irritation on your face.