For some, getting covered by a news camera is the best kind of media coverage. But it can  be tricky coverage to get because news desks can be funny about sending their camera crews out to unknown location or to work with a new organization.

Thanks to Jennifer Wiggins and Danielle Johnson, producers at NBC 10 in Philadelphia, for offering up these valuable tips for contacting your local news organization.

Ten Tips for Local News Coverage

1. E-mail the press release 1 month-2 weeks before the event (NBC files all press releases in their ‘futures section’)
2. The day before the event, resend the release and call to ensure the press release was received
3. Ask for the planner on the assignment desk to make sure your release was filed. They are in charge of choosing the best events to cover and they will let you know if your event is something the station will be able to cover.
4. If the media comes out to cover your event, ask for their contact information. The more people you meet (reporters, photographers, writers, etc.) the better!
5. A newsroom is busy-no matter how amazing your event is, if the editors have to track down all the necessary information, your event likely will not get coverage.
6. Include the who/what/when/where/contact info for the day of the event /summary of the event in your press release and/or follow-up memo.
7. If it is an event (for example, a fundraiser) that spans from 9am-12pm-include the best time to send a camera. If  at 11am there is a check presentation, make that clear so the camera is sent at the correct time.
8. Utilize social media. Set up a Facebook page, Twitter account and post your events on community forums, in newspapers, on news websites to stay connected.
9. Include your EXACT address.
10. Follow up after the event with outcomes (i.e. how much money was raised, how many people were fed, etc.) Show the impact.

What are your tips for getting local television coverage?

Want more valuable tips like these? Order your copy of the Mopwater Manual.

Amanda Miller Littlejohn is a writer, public relations consultant and media strategist in Washington, DC. Follow her on Twitter or offer her new workshop ideas on Facebook.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had  a great holiday season and are gearing up for a great 2009. As promised, Mopwater is back in full effect today, and as such, I’m launching the much-anticipated “How to Pitch” column.  HTP is going to give you the inside track on how to get yourself or your client covered in print, broadcast and web-based media.

Reporters and editors-are you looking to get more exposure for your work in 2009? Ready to put down the pen (okay, keyboard) for a moment and get on-screen?  Maybe you’ve recently seen your reporter colleagues featured as experts on television news programs, so you’re wondering how you could get on television,too.

To help you get your first television interview, I’ve interviewed  Ferman Patterson, Producer of Reporter’s Roundtable, a public affairs program that airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon on Channel 16 in the District of Columbia. Frequent guests include D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Washington Post Reporter Hamil Harris. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the program, here’s a brief synopsis from the DC Office of Cable Television:

Hosted by Denise Rolark Barnes of The Washington Informer, the show tackles the top news items affecting District residents. Viewers will hear issues addressed from every perspective by panelists like Hamil Harris of The Washington Post and Deborah Simmons of The Washington Times. The show takes you beyond the local headlines as these journalists debate what’s in the news and how it will impact DC residents.

I’ve often wondered how reporters/experts get booked on this program as it seems like the guests are pretty much the same whenever I tune in.  According to Patterson, it really depends.

“Sometimes we get leads from reporters or we see a reporter on air and [invite them on],” he says. “Who we choose is based on topic or subject matter.” Recently archived episodes include the same-sex marriage debate, the green revolution and Wall Street vs. Main Street. Read the full story