The PR Whisperer

Author, Crisis Communications Expert, Strategic Communications Advisor

Tag: jennifer r farmer

Want to Grow or Protect Your Brand in 2025: Remember These 5 Tips

Be in private, who you say you are in public.

Your brand is like currency. The stronger your brand, the greater your leverage. The weaker your brand, the more difficulty you’ll face in building relationships, launching new products and closing business deals.

This really isn’t hard to believe. Companies work with influencers and spokespersons who have strong brands. They work with people who aren’t marred by conflict and crisis.

For these reasons and more, everyone should be concerned with their personal and professional brand. In 2025, if you are looking to build or solidify your brand, here are five things you should consider:

  1. The first step in developing a brand is getting clear on who you are and how you want to be known

    Once you have a vision for who you are and how you want to be known, you can make decisions that support your vision.

  2. Your brand is not just what you say, it is what you consistently do.

    The best thing you can do for your brand is to be consistent. It is also to develop a consistent practice of living the way you want to be perceived. If you are a health influencer, develop a consistent practice of making decisions that are good for your physical and mental health.

  3. Be in private who you say you are in public

    A strong brand is fidelity to who you say you are. In other words, close the gap between who you say you are and how you actually show up. If you notice incongruity between who you say you are and what you consistently do, spend time working to address this area.

  4. Identify people who have a strong brand

    Spend time studying those individuals and get clear on what they do, why it resonates with you. Assess their strengths and any identifiable weaknesses. Determine if there is anything that they are doing that you admire.

  5. Don’t confuse having a strong brand with over-saturation

    You do not have to be everywhere at all times. You can have seasons of respite, seasons of research and seasons on private work.

 

Jennifer R. Farmer is a crisis communications expert and founder Spotlight PR LLC. The firm helps clients build their platforms and protect their brands.

I Consider These 5 Things Before I Make Commentary

The Lens I Use Before Posting Commentary

Over the past year, I’ve really leaned into developing YouTube content. I recently posted a video discussing the crisis involving the DayStar Television Network. The video garnered 15,000 views in 24 hours. It also generated tons of comments.

It is clear that this issue is on the hearts and minds of many. Some people who listened to my commentary expressed displeasure about the situation. Some made comments that seemed to suggest that they thought I didn’t understand what was happening. I wondered if some people expected me to harsher.

Here are five things I consider before posting commentary.

How would the leadership of my church react if they saw my commentary?

. I want who I am in private to be aligned with who I am in public. Similarly, I want the people who I go to church with to believe that I am the same person around them that I am in private. I often ask myself whether how I show up online is consistent with how I show up in person. I never want there to be discord or a disconnect Would how I show up here be in alignment with how I show up in my church community? Am I mirroring the grace and compassion that characterizes the leaders in my church.

I can rest in God’s promise that vengeance belongs to him.

The bible is clear that “God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, he will also reap.” The bible is also clear that God said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” How God repays is not my business. God is also not asking me to dispense with judgement or to punish others. God doesn’t need my help. As much as I may lament over one issue or another, I take comfort in knowing that God is also fair and loving. He will not allow those who do wickedly to escape judgement.

What is the lesson in this situation for me?

Every situation offers lesson and every relationship is a teacher. When I hear about issues such as what DayStar is experiencing, I ask God what he’s trying to tell me, if anything. I ponder, ‘what is the lesson for me – not Joni Lamb, not Doug Weiss, not Suzy and not Jonathan.’ What does God want me to know and is God asking me to do anything specific.

Am I treating others the way I would want to be treated?

My commentary will be informed by whether I am being fair, honest and loving. When I make a mistake, would I want other people to treat me how treat others? No one is perfect, including me. I fail daily. If my failures were publicized, I would want grace. That is the lens with which I will offer commentary.

Does my behavior honor or displease God?

When the time comes for me to meet my maker, he won’t be concerned about my accomplishments and accolades, other than to consider how I managed what he entrusted to me. Other than that, God will see me for who I am – all my faults, failures and challenges. God will be interested not in what I’ve done for myself, but in what I’ve done for him. As such, I will strive to be careful and measured in any commentary I offer.

I will not always get it right – no human being will. But I will increasingly strive to offer grace-filled, and wise commentary and advice. I never want to be the kind of person who bludgeons people or piles on when they are done. My intention is to inspire readers and listeners of my podcasts to think and reflect on how to be a better person. I also want to give the same grace that I will one day require.

Jennifer R. Farmer, aka The PR Whisperer®, is an author, lecturer and strategic communications expert. Check out our blog posts and subscribe for updates

In Hard Times, You Need More Discernment, Not Less

Being in need is itself a risk factor. In the same way that some people are desperate to make ends meet, other people find ways to pray on those they perceive as less powerful.

 

Over the past few months, I’ve heard of several alleged financial scams. Many of these scams involved real estate. As deplorable as these allegations are, they do not occur in a vacuum. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) noted that consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, and 2.4 million people filed fraud claims that year.

According to the FTC, “Consumers reported losing more money to investment scams—more than $3.8 billion—than any other category in 2022. That amount more than doubles the amount reported lost in 2021. The second highest reported loss amount came from imposter scams, with losses of $2.6 billion reported, up from $2.4 billion in 2021.”

Upon learning of the scams, I was initially shocked. But as I sat processing the depths that some people will go to accumulate money and power, it dawned on me that greed is a terrible thing. It has an appetite that can never be satiated, driving the possessed person to terrible lengths. And one group of people are particularly vulnerable.

Unfortunately, when people experience financial lack, they are susceptible to exploitation. Being in need is itself a risk factor. In the same way that some people are desperate to make ends meet, other people find ways to pray on those they perceive as less powerful. This may explain why, during times of war, women and children can fall victim to crime. Certainly, these things don’t just occur during times of war. But we know that instability can be a breeding ground for gender-based violence.

Think about natural disasters. During natural disasters, women are more vulnerable, as they are more likely to be displaced, more likely to have responsibilities caring for children, and more likely to experience gender inequality. They are more likely to experience human trafficking and domestic and intimate partner violence as well. So, while natural disasters and national emergencies can evoke grand gestures of kindness, these moments can also spur the worst of human nature.

The lesson for me is that when times are bad, we must be more vigilant, not less. We must be vigilant in who we date, hire, and engage. We can’t assume that every extended hand is a helping hand – some come to deliver harm. Now, let us be clear – there is individual work and collective work. The collective work is for the community to be more watchful and for the government to create more policies that protect the vulnerable. Individual work is to be discerning, to seek God, and to remain alert. If something looks too good to be true, it likely is not true.

Additionally, there are no quick fixes or silver bullets to solve our problems. Investments that boast quick or massive returns should be questioned. Progress takes time. Growing one’s business or wealth takes time. When people appear promising to make you wealthy overnight – or promising a quick fix to a massive problem – please be leery.

Another takeaway is that we must teach and practice contentment. The ubiquitousness of social media has meant that we are living in fish bowls of sorts. We have a veiled window into the lives of neighbors and strangers. But constantly seeing what other people are doing and consuming can lead to discontent. It is imperative that we put blinders on and be content with what we have. We should also assume that much of what we see online isn’t real – there are people who have honed the art of selling dreams. That doesn’t make them more successful than the next person. Even more, so what that a person has or appears to have more than you. Consider the passage of scripture in Psalms 49:16-20, “Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.”

At the end of the day, we are all on a journey to improvement and growth. No one has this thing called life completely figured out.

 

 

 

 

Build Your Own Content Channels

By Jennifer R. Farmer

As we round out Q3, I have at least one item for you to put on your To Do list for 2024; invest in your own content channels. The days of relying solely on traditional media or social media platforms owned by companies that may not share your values are over. It is time to create and invest in your own platforms.

Why?

Whether it is the acceleration of artificial intelligence, a desire to return more money to shareholders, or an obsession with celebrity and popular culture, the media continues to contract in ways that harm us all. Certainly, the media has been contracting for years, but the cuts show no signs of abating. Earlier this year, Axios reported that the media industry cut 17,436 jobs. This was more than the start of the pandemic when 16,750 media jobs were cut. And the cuts this year follow years of steep losses in newsroom jobs.

As the media contracts, there are fewer trusted journalists to tell our stories, and fewer journalists who understand and appreciate the nuances of race, gender, sexual identity, etc. This means that the universe of people to truthfully tell our stories continues to dwindle. Consequently, disinformation spreads as more and more people turn to social media.

What is more, as a result of continued media industry cuts, public relations professionals outnumber journalists 6 to 1. There are more people pitching reporters than there are reporters to write and cover stories.

If ever there were a time to become a curator and publisher of information, that time is now. Here are four ideas to jump start your planning as you consider or continue to invest in your own content channels.

  • Build a Newsletter or Grow the One You Have. If you don’t already have one, it’s time to start a newsletter. If you have one, it’s time to invest in and upgrade your newsletter. This will give you an opportunity to share your message with your audience in a way that is not diluted. It will also give you a way to mobilize your base to action. Remember the people who come to you are interested in your work, so use every opportunity to tell them about it. You can promote your newsletter via social media but be sure to drive all traffic back to your website. Please also remember that your newsletter should include your base as well as journalists and producers who cover your issue area.
  • Invest in SMS Marketing. If the past few years have taught us anything it is that we do not own social media platforms. While it is nice to amass a large number of followers, true power is having contact information for those followers. You need emails, phone numbers and a way to quickly communicate with your base. Always ask yourself, if this platform were suddenly unavailable to me, how would I reach my audience? One way to do this is to launch an SMS marketing campaign to collect phone numbers and emails and then use that information to send information that your base finds useful.
  • Promote Your Thought Leadership via Opinion Essays. Even when an issue is noteworthy, communicators face an uphill battle garnering media coverage, especially in today’s landscape. While it’s harder than ever to secure media coverage, it is imperative that we tell our stories on our own terms. That is why publishing opinion essays should be on your radar. Opinion essays are guest columns usually between 700 and 800 words. They have one or two bylines and represent opinion bolstered by provable facts.
  • Become Investor Consumers. Few media outlets are awash in cash; not all have angel investors and corporate sponsors. And due to racism, when media outlets owned by Black people have the clicks, they do not always receive the same advertising dollars as their white counterparts. This leaves them scrambling for revenue year after year, and unable to cover stories that are important to our community. It is imperative that advocacy organizations earmark money for public relations as well as investing in media outlets created for and owned by our community. They cannot win without us, and we can’t win without them.

The bottom line is that we must become the architects of our own stories. We can do this by investing in our own platform channels and being strategic with how we use our resources.

There’s no other way to say it; you must be the authoritative source your audience can rely on to learn what is happening, who is doing it, and how to push back. And you must take control of reaching them. Continue to build a cult-like following to inform and mobilize. But do it on platforms that you control and own (we can amass tons of social media followers, but we do not own any social media platform).

That’s why you must diligently collect contact information from your audience and base, and then give them what you know they want.

 

Four Signs Your Media Interview Has Gone Off the Rails

What You Should Do When The Interview is Not Going As You Had Hoped

If you utilize traditional media to amplify your brand or campaign, you must know how to salvage a media interview when it has gone south. And listen, just because you have years of experience working with reporters doesn’t mean that a refresher from time to time isn’t warranted. When you speak or meet with reporters you have an opportunity to not only generate a story but build a relationship. It is important to be prepared for all that could occur in these high stakes interactions.

In the spirit of helping you prepare, here are four signs your media interview has taken a turn for the worst and how you can salvage it.

  1. The reporter stops writing or typing. If you are engaged in a media interview and the reporter stops typing as you’re talking or stops writing on their notepad (in the event this is an in-person conversation), please note that the conversation is not going well and it’s very likely the reporter has checked out of the interview. If this happens, ask the reporter if you are answering their questions, and whether they would like other examples. Do not ignore this sign. You cannot be included in a story if reporters do not record your comments and perspective.
  2. The reporter abruptly asks you for recommendations for other groups they should speak with. If you are in a media interview and midway through, the reporter asks for other people they should speak with, please note that you may have hit a snag. A journalist asking you – a source – for other sources could mean that you are not giving them what they need, and they’d prefer to speak with someone else. If their asking for other sources is coupled with other signs of disengagement, this is a sign that you need to try to re-engage the reporter. Alternatively, if you’ve spent considerable time with the journalist and they are engaged throughout the discussion, a request for other sources could be harmless.
  3. The reporter stops asking you questions. If a reporter stops asking questions during a conversation, and you sense they checking out of the conversation, you may want to follow-up with a detailed email reiterating the points you made in the discussion. You’ll want to include links for articles, reports and briefs that underscore your point. You can also ask the reporter directly whether there was something else they were looking to hear and how else you can support them in their research for their story.
  4. The reporter is visibly or audibly frustrated. Reporters are human beings capable of getting frustrated like anyone else. Some of the reasons that a reporter may get frustrated in an interview is if a source is not answering questions directly, evading questions, playing coy, or talking over them. They may also become annoyed if they sense a source is using talking points versus communicating with depth and substance. All these things may draw the journalist’s ire. If a reporter is visibly frustrated – as in they are raising their voice, rolling their eyes, or backing away from a table where you all are sitting – note that their patience is waning, and you need to pivot.

Remember that everything you say to a reporter can affect your story. In the words of media trainer Sally Stewart, “give yourself every advantage to make a good impression.” Come to the discussion prepared to tell the reporter something they do not know and be sure to have data and examples to underscore your point. Importantly, apply emotional intelligence to your engagement with reporters and pivot if you see the conversation going off the rails.

And if you are not receiving media requests, be sure to see this video.

Knowledge Alone Will Not Heal You

You Must Do The Work

Many of us have heard the saying “if you know better you do better.” It makes sense and it is certainly a comforting line. But I’m not sure the statement is entirely true. Many of us know that we should get more physical exercise, but that doesn’t mean that we do. Many of us know that there are certain conversations in which we should not participate, or people with whom we should not engage, but that doesn’t mean that we honor what we know. Many of us know that we should say “no” to certain relationships, but that doesn’t mean that we do so.

Knowledge provides insight, but it takes healing to move from a place of knowing to heart and behavior change. We can gain knowledge from research, but research doesn’t equate to behavior change. We can also gain knowledge through therapy, but that doesn’t mean that awareness will always lead to change. A person can acquire knowledge, but knowledge doesn’t guarantee better behavior. We must move from knowing to acting on what we know. This is likely why James said in the bible, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Additionally, I believe there is a spiritual and natural component to the struggles we face. There are pathologies and patterns that chase all of us. It takes intentional work, prayer and deliverance to break those patterns and pathologies.

To be clear, therapy is critically important as it provides a safe place to process trauma, address mental health challenges and learn strategies for navigating life. Additionally, as my friend Quanita Roberson has often said, “we were not meant to heal alone.” What is more, the Bible is clear that “in the multitude of counsel, there is safety,” Proverbs 11:14-15.

I believe true transformation comes from God. Sure, there is work that God requires us to do. And once we have insight into a matter, perhaps gleaned through therapy, we can better direct our prayers. But at the end of the day, we must turn to God for assistance in acting on what we know.

This explains why one can become fatigued with the presentation of information. I recall binge watching videos from a physician and health guru. The doctor had clearly done their research on chronic diseases. As I spent that warm Sunday afternoon consuming the content while meal prepping, I found myself discouraged. There was so much information that I felt overwhelmed. I checked out after several hours, not sure whether I would retain much of what I heard. Upon hearing the information, I needed to pray for transformation and then take daily action to adopt the recommendations.

In sum, knowing alone will not save you. You can know – possibly through therapy, reflection or divine revelation– that you have had a tendency of people please. You can know – possibly through therapy, reflection or divine revelation – why you seek to please others. But it takes practice and prayer to choose something different.

And there is power in doing the work – consistently. Many of us are creatures of habit. We do what is familiar and what is familiar is what we have experienced or what we have always done. When I wanted to develop a practice of exercising, I had to practice. I had to develop a pattern of doing what I set an intention to do. When I wanted to be more loving to myself, I had to develop a pattern of speaking lovingly to myself. I had to create a new practice. But at each step along the way, I prayed and asked for godly assistance as I set about to create new, healthier habits and patterns.

 

Take Your Time: Why Cutting Corners to Grow Followers Online Isn’t Worth It

Success doesn’t always happen overnight; and even if it did, we all need time to develop the character and capacity to maintain it.

 

I recently learned of a plastic surgeon, Dr. Katherine Roxanne Grawe, who allegedly filmed and live broadcasted some medical procedures on TikTok. The State Medical Board of Ohio voted unanimously on July 12, 2023, to permanently revoke her medical license. My thoughts are with her patients, and Dr. Grawe herself because no one goes to medical school, or nursing school for that matter, with the intention of being barred from practicing one day.

And even as I acknowledge this unfortunate situation, I recognize that this experience is a teachable moment for the rest of us. There is tremendous pressure to grow one’s social media following. Growing your platform can increase investments in your organization or company, boost book sales, and increase our online reach. Having a lot of followers on social media can be conflated with credibility in the eyes of new followers, customers, or clients, though I caution us to really examine whether this is the case. Having a large platform is nice, but the real focus should be on developing a strong brand and reputation.

It is obvious that not everything is meant for social media. When one works in the medical or legal professions, or when one is bound by privacy concerns, sharing too much online can be distasteful, unethical, and dangerous. And yet, people do it to gain followers and influence. I’ve also seen leaders be intentionally controversial as a strategy to stand out or even go viral.

While being controversial may temporarily help a person gain followers, there are ways to increase your online reach and presence without compromising your future self. Being consistent, posting regularly, giving your audience something that meets a defined or undefined need are all excellent ways to grow your online audience or strengthen your brand.

The most important takeaway however is that growing your platform takes time. Be wary of people who cut corners or promise to take you from 0 to 100 overnight. Success doesn’t always happen overnight; and even if it did, we all need time to develop the character and capacity to maintain it.

I like to remind myself that I am in a competition with only myself. The same is true for you. This is your race to run, and your brand to carefully manage. Be diligent and patient. You do not need to turn to gimmicks or questionable tactics to grow your platform. Focus on building a strong brand, one day and one post at a time.

 

The Underbelly of Media Coverage

By Jennifer R. Farmer

Many people want and need media coverage, which can make it easier for funders and donors to find and invest in an entity’s work. Coverage can also lend credibility to your organization, campaign, or initiative. For instance, when you want to learn about a company or organization, you will likely Google it to determine whether it has favorable or negative coverage and reviews. When people see coverage from an independent and established media organization, they are more likely to view an entity as credible and effective. We know coverage is important, and I’m in the business of ensuring good people get the spotlight they want, need, and deserve.

And yet, there is an underbelly of media coverage. In addition to attracting funders, it can also attract haters. It can attract jealousy and envy. As you think about media coverage, know that as your platform increases, so will scrutiny. That shouldn’t mean that you hide or stay in a perpetual state of fear. But you should be prepared and ensure that you are operating ethically and effectively. If there are things you need to tend to, do so now, understanding that media coverage can put a microscope on you and the entity you lead.

I share this so that you are informed. If you’re praying for more coverage and a larger platform, carry an umbrella so you’re prepared for the sun as well as the rain.

Be sure to check out this YouTube page for more information to help you manage your brand.

 

Quick. What You Do Now Matters.

By Jennifer R. Farmer

For years, the media has been in a free fall. We’ve seen newsrooms consolidate departments and functions, shed positions, and cease operations. This trend has continued through 2022, as CNN recently announced layoffs impacting 400 of its 4,400 workforces. Gannett, which owns hundreds of local papers in communities across the country, announced its third round of layoffs. NPR also announced cuts. The Washington Post is ending its Sunday magazine, and The New York Times is embroiled in labor negotiations. Those recent announcements follow the closure of the Black News Channel and reductions at BuzzFeed News in 2021 and years of media layoffs.

For people who wake up thinking about how to promote worthy causes, what you do now matters. To garner media attention in today’s climate, I recommend leaders and entities committed to social good take these steps:

  1. Build local media platforms. As mainstream media outlets have sought to diversify their teams and promised more opportunities for communities of color, many Black journalists have left Black-owned or Black-targeted outlets. But without intentional work to build and support Black outlets, local outlets and Indigenous outlets, our communities lose information and power. We also drain our institutions of much needed knowledge. When mainstream media outlets announce cuts, our people are often disproportionately impacted. This impacts us as well as our community, according to Race Forward’s Executive Vice President Eric Ward: “The real danger is that a growing number of African Americans have no place to try to understand what is happening in the world, what is happening in the country, and what it means for their communities and for their lives.”
  2. Create Your Own Content Channels. Nonprofits and advocacy organizations that want coverage will need to build their own content channels. Creating one’s own content channels enables one to immediately deliver a message. It also ensures control over the message and the probability of it being seen by one’s intended audience. Further, creating one’s own content channels makes reporting as easy as possible for journalists when they ultimately find an entity. Whether it is the company website; podcasts; blogs; or short videos on Facebook, Vimeo, TikTok, etc., we must take control of our message and the speed at which it is disseminated by creating our own content channels.
  3. Become Investor Consumers. Most smaller media outlets are not awash in cash; not all have angel investors and corporate sponsors. This many in a perpetual scramble for revenue. Advocacy organizations must be committed to supported media outlets that report the news, do so with a racial equity lens, and are committed to truth-telling. Organizations with financial means should donate regularly and consistently to people of color-owned and/or smaller media outlets. Donating should be a regular line item in an organization’s strategic communications budget.
  4. Consume the News Conscientiously. Communities of color and persons who favor an inclusive democracy should watch platforms owned by people of color and advertise as much as possible. This demonstrates for advertisers that there is demand for these platforms. Viewership is directly tied to advertising dollars and when outlets can prove they have the viewers, they are able to secure more revenue from advertising. It is incumbent upon people who want to advance racial, climate, gender, and social justice to be conscientious news consumers. This is the only way to ensure that the media outlets that deliver unvarnished truth remain in existence as long as possible.
  5. Be Ready to Pounce. As much as we like to plan, there are some things we can never anticipate. That is why rapid-response communications is important. Rapid response is quick mobilization of communications resources to respond to a crisis, or unforeseen opportunity or challenge. When the unexpected happens and you have deep knowledge or insights in the issue, be ready to pounce. Immediately craft or have someone in your team craft a story or pitch speaking to the issue at hand. Go live on your social media platform of choice and share your perspective. Monitor media trends and the news cycle carefully. And when you see an opportunity, pounce.

Trust me, I know how hard garnering media attention has become. But that doesn’t mean we can throw in the towel. Times are changing, and we must change as well. We must be smart, intentional and persistent in order to elevate important causes.

 

 

The Media Is Still Contracting: Here’s What Nonprofits and Brands Can Do

By Jennifer R. Farmer

This is feeling like a yearly column. At the end of 2019, I wrote an article titled, “The Media is Contracting: Now What?” In 2020, I updated the article because, you guessed it, the media was still contracting. That year, I wrote that there were more jobs lost in the media industry in 2020 than there had been since 2008. According to The Hill, “An estimated 28,637 cuts were reported in the industry by late October, …nearly as many as the record 28,803 reported in the media sector in 2008. By comparison, the sector saw just over 10,000 job losses in 2019 and 15,474 in 2018.”

In 2022, I am once again writing about contractions in the media. Over the past few days, I learned that the Black News Channel (BNC) has ceased operations. They had faced a gender discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit. They also allegedly failed to meet payroll after losing support from at least one major investor. Their closing shop is not entirely surprising given the very serious accusations on workplace culture at the company.

But I also learned that BuzzFeed News ceased operations as well. The complete cessation of work there is not entirely surprising. They allegedly lost revenue year after year; and let’s face it, continued loses are not sustainable. This is a major loss because BuzzFeed had a strong investigative arm, playing a leading role in exposing information during the #MeToo era, appeared to offer employment opportunities for journalists of color, and was a place where social and racial justice advocates could find fair coverage for their work.

These losses are significant. BNC was Black-owned and Black-targeted. They provided a place for Black opinion by Black commentators and guests. They were a home for scores of producers and other behind the camera talent, employing over 230 people. They covered the issues impacting the Black community at a time when Black people continue to need substantive news rather than just entertainment. Their coverage of the confirmation hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson brought in some of their highest views. Today, Black people have fewer platforms to share and received news about our community.

Who Will Bring the Hard News?

What I’ve learned is that just because we do not know about it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. As someone who has worked in social and racial justice communications, I know firsthand the myriad issues that impact our community and deserve our advocacy. It is harder to mobilize Black, Native, Indigenous and Latino communities without platforms owned by us, or dedicated to our advancement.

As I shared in my 2019 piece, if you are relying on media coverage to spur advocacy you will need to develop a different media blueprint in 2022 than what you may have used in the past. Due to contractions in the media spurred by layoffs and media consolidations and closures, earned media – or media that you do not pay for – is becoming harder to come by. Having a good story is no longer enough to secure media coverage.

What You Do Now Matters

See this article for more ideas on what you can do now to continue to garner public awareness for your work. And here’s what you can do between media interview requests.