You’ve put in the training, the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears and come away with the win. And then? … Crickets… Lack of media coverage is a problem facing most sportswomen and while there have been leaps forward in recent years, coverage of women’s sport still lags well behind the men.
So, you’re mad as hell and want to do something about it? You’ve come to the right place!
Media relations, is it different for sportswomen?
Yes and no. Guideline at tips around working with the media are pretty standard but what is different is the help and support you receive to get that media attention. Let’s face it, you’re going to need to do a lot of the work yourself. Chances are, your club or sport and in some cases, your national body, are not focused on women in sport the way they are on the men. Even if they are, sportswomen are often the lower priority. We can talk all day about how this sucks or we can go out and do something about it ourselves.
How can sportswomen get more media coverage?
Thankfully, there are journalists and editors out there hungry for your story. I spoke with some of the leading names in sport reporting, and some outside of sport, and they gave me a whole heap of excellent tips.
Below are some of the highlights and for more, download my ‘Media Relations Guide for Sportswomen‘.
1. Talk about yourself
“Journalists actually want to know what you’re doing, and this information is often hard to find. While they might not always be able to run a story, it will be stored for next time.” – @MarkBeretta
“Tell your story to anyone who will listen actually practice talking about yourself until you are confident doing so.” – @adambspencer
2. Twitter
“Twitter is essential” – @MelanieDinjaski
I agree! I wrote this: 4 Things Sportswomen Should do to Succeed on Twitter.
You can also follow all the journos I spoke to for this article by subscribing to this twitter list.
3. Pick up the phone
“Journalists get hundreds of emails a day and do not read them all. Try to make an appointment for coffee.” – @KathrynWicksSMH
“When we get in in the morning, we scratch around for stories we can pitch to the editor, so first thing (9.30-10.30am) is the opportune time to call.” – @FletaTheTweeter
4. Do your research
“Do research on the media, so you can find the right outlet for your story.” – @naomiwoodley
5. Build a relationship with journalists
“The best interviews are where it actually feels more like two mates having a chat rather than an official interview. Feel free to touch base with a journo, even if not about a story. Say thanks if you particularly like a story about you.” – @Tuxy81
Want more media relations tips?
In the full guide, you’ll get candid and practical advice from Mark Beretta, Debbie Spillane, Kathryn Wicks, Ashley Morrison, Justin Chadwick, Ash Hashim, Fleta Page, Brett Klucznik, Brandi Ortega, Davidde Corran, Naomi Woodley, Aidan Ormond, Rachael OaksAsh, Jon Tuxworth, David Zdrilic, Tom Anderberg, Joe Novella, Adam Spencer, Eamonn Flanagan, Kieran Theivam, Ian Kerr, Melanie Dinjaski, David Basheer, Jamila Rizvi, Paula Ward, Peter Wilkins, Simon Hill, Paul Oliver, Caterina Polistina, Nat Harrision and to Kerri Pottharst OAM for an athlete’s perspective.
This article is an updated version of Get More Media Coverage: PR Guide for Sportswomen.
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