Building Relationships with Reporters and Columnists

As an expert in your field with the ability to provide context and perspective to a range of topics covered in the media, you can take pro-active measures to build relationships with individual journalists. Whenever you come across a story related to your area of expertise, it takes only a few minutes to respond, emailing the reporter or columnist one or two lines of appreciation.

Want to share your expertise in the media? A simple way to start is by engaging with journalists covering topics in your field.

How?
Respond to relevant stories – When you see an article related to your expertise, take a moment to email the journalist. A short message of appreciation can go a long way.

Position yourself as a reliable source – Introduce yourself briefly, highlight your relevant credentials, and offer a fresh perspective.

Keep it professional & non-partisan – Focus on insights that add value rather than opinions that might seem biased.

Make yourself available – Let them know you’re happy to speak and provide your best contact information.

Building these relationships can increase your chances of being quoted and establish you as a trusted expert in your field.