A news alert is an announcement of a present or upcoming event that’s specifically intended for journalists. Also called media advisories, they’re meant to convince reporters that your event is a genuine news story worthy of coverage. Media alerts can be a one-page announcement for local reporters or press releases distributed to wider audiences via wire services. Check out this sample media alert about a local Lights On Afterschool event for some inspiration.
Breaking news alerts are a vital part of journalistic practice and build trust with audiences during urgent events. However, it’s critical that they be used carefully to avoid sensationalism and ensure that the facts are accurate. This often requires thorough fact-checking processes and prioritizing verified information over speed.
When planning your media alerts, be sure to include the five W’s: who, what, when, where, and why. This will give reporters the basic info they need to cover your event, as well as any photo opportunities that may exist. Use acronyms sparingly and avoid unique words that text-to-speech software might mispronounce or confuse with other common words. Also, if your message is being sent over a telecommunications system (such as a push notification or SMS), be sure to use the device options to prioritize the text that’ll reach the most people.
Setting up alerts for your brand, competitors, industry keywords and more gives you a snapshot of your online presence, allowing you to track positive and negative mentions in the media. You can then take action based on what you find.