By Lisa Hochgraf
I got a big surprise a few weeks back when I got a PDF press release from a credit union public relations person. Since I was interested in the content of the release, I wrote back, asking for the release in Word, which I find easier to copy and paste into my electronic ideas files. (I also find Word files more editable if I'm directly using the release in one of CUES' publications.)
The PR person granted my request, but surprised me by writing back: "Typically we release them in PDF format so they're uneditable."
Uneditable?
Oh my. Please be kind to the editors you're hoping will cover your credit union's news. Send them a very editable press release so they can easily adapt it for their publications.
I also recently talked about how CUs can work well with editors in this interview with Mike Lawson at CU Broadcast. I was nervous; but I tried to apply this good advice for on-camera interviews.
What are your best tips for dealing with being nervous during an interview? And what works for you to get press coverage of your CU? I hope you'll add "send editable files to editors" to your bag of tricks.
