A news alert is a notification that describes a developing story that has the potential to impact public safety or create widespread concern. These alerts are often disseminated via multiple media outlets for broad distribution and can be incredibly effective at capturing audience attention in the face of an emergency. However, they raise important ethical considerations about sensationalism and fact-checking processes and require responsible journalists to prioritize accuracy over speed.
A media alert can be written in narrative form or bullet format and should answer the questions Who, What, When, Where, and Why. It should also announce whether a newsmaker like the mayor, governor, or member of Congress will be attending your event and provide contact information for someone to speak with reporters if they have additional questions.
The headline is the first thing that will catch a reporter’s eye and should be both enticing and informative. If possible, include a statistic or visual image to grab the viewer’s attention and encourage them to attend your event. You should also include contact information at the bottom of the alert, including two people who are easy to reach.
Setting up Google Alerts is an efficient and free way to monitor conversations about your client or industry keywords. These alerts will send you an email when new results appear online. Using these strategies will give you the tools to master media alert creation, making it easier for you to capture the attention of reporters and elevate your PR game.