Where did you find the media list?
Once you know who you want to send a public message to, you need to gather all the media-related information. You can use the following to find the person you are looking for:
1. Look online. Many stores provide services for a fee. But it may not fit your budget. There is also a list of free media on the internet. This is good for a start but often leaves out important information and can never be updated.
2. Use the library. Many libraries have local and national media archives. Take a few hours and write down all the information you need. However, be aware that much of the list may be outdated as the database is written.
3. Use what you already have. A smart person already follows what is happening in the media in his market, often subscribes to newsletters and uses RSS feeds and news feeds on the Internet. (To create your own alerts, check out Google Alerts). When you come across a news story related to your topic, write down the reporter’s name and contact information.
Remember that you need to check the information. Writers and the like frequently change roles or companies; so you should call to check the information you have, no matter when you last heard it. Gatekeepers (hosts) can protect employee contact names and information and rarely reveal this information. Asking them to check what you have can be very productive.