Wanted to share part of a meaningful conversation I had about the media. Recently “the media” has gotten a bad rap. They cannot be trusted, they are spewing misinformation, they are the mouthpiece for this political party or that political party. It bothers me deeply when people use the broad stroke of the phrase “the media” when referencing media that comes out of New York NOT your local guys. There is a big difference between the two.

The national media are the various networks out of NYC that may or may not be biased in their reporting in one way or another on any given topic. They may or may not have an agenda to advance.

The local media are the ones in your community. The ones you see at the grocery store, at the gym, taking their kids to school, at church. It’s these members of the media who are simply trying to do their job, day in and day out. With fewer resources, the threat of AI taking their jobs, having safe words with camera guys if they sense a threatening situation, and the ever-present fear of station layoffs on the horizon. A few months ago a station in my old town canceled all their weekend newscasts and laid off dozens of friends. No warning.

Comparing national and local media is not an apples to apples comparison. More like apples to watermelons.

At the local level, you have some reporters who are fresh out of college, all the way seasoned veterans. I bet you are thinking of some on both ends of the spectrum right now! Are they perfect? Not at all. But they try. In an industry that very few want to work in, it's important to remember at the local level, these people are our neighbors and it never hurts anyone to be kind to a neighbor.

That said, at the local level, they are always looking for good stories. That’s why I positively enjoy working with clients to pitch their stories and get businesses in front of potential thousands. Local media should be a part of every business's marketing strategy. Like social media, local media, when done correctly, is free too. I share more about the services I provide and a few takeaways if you are going after local media yourself on the Cherie Rickard Show Podcast.

I will close with this. Social media is increasingly becoming saturated. Algorithms aren’t playing fair, and only a fraction of followers see our content. Having a better understanding that the local media really can be a friend when it comes to free promotion and publicity, then it makes sense to want to engage them. If for no other reason than to get new customers to your business or website.

You don’t have to do it alone. If you would like to talk about whether PR is right for your business right now, I am here for it! I have heard from many business owners who say they are tired of hearing from a customer, "I've lived here all my life and never knew this business existed." You are ready for publicity. Even if you think you aren't.

Ready to stop being your town’s best-kept secret?

Let’s chat about how local media can work for your business. Whether you’re ready to pitch a story or just curious if PR is the right move, I’m here to help.

Click here to schedule a free call!

No one likes the feeling of wandering aimlessly.

Memorable Results Media regularly comes alongside small businesses as a guide in supporting business owners craft their own roadmap. If this sounds like a great idea but you are at maximum capacity, drop me an email at michelle@memorableresultsmedia.com

I’d love to hear from you!

Why Local Media Matters More Than You Think

Ready to stop being your town’s best-kept secret?

No one likes the feeling of wandering aimlessly.

Reflections on Risk, Resilience, and Running a Business