💡 Debunking Common Misconceptions About Journalists
Separating fact from fiction is key to building stronger media relationships
If you’re not used to working with journalists, your first experience may come with some surprises. In fact, you might even hold a few mistaken beliefs about what it’s really like to collaborate with them.
As a former journalist, I frequently encountered these misunderstandings — even from seasoned PR professionals. If not addressed early on, these assumptions can lead to frustration and missed opportunities for you in the long run.
Today, I’d like to identify and address some of the most common misconceptions to help better prepare you for working with journalists on your upcoming announcements.
Journalists cover every press release they receive. One of the most common misunderstandings is that journalists will cover every press release that lands in their inbox. The reality is that journalists receive dozens — if not hundreds — of press releases daily, meaning they must be selective about what they choose to write about. Sometimes, your news might not be timely or relevant to their audience. Just because a press release is important to your organization doesn’t mean it will be viewed as newsworthy by a journalist. Additionally, even if a story has merit, the journalist you sent it to may be too busy to cover it. Remember, there are plenty of reasons why a journalist may not publish your news, and it's rarely personal.
Journalists work on your timeline. It’s easy to assume that journalists will follow your timeline when they agree to cover your story. However, this isn’t the case. Journalists often juggle multiple stories at once, each with its own unique deadline. They are working on their schedule, not yours. While polite follow-ups can be helpful — especially if a journalist missed your email — it's important to be patient. Their time and resources are limited, and they may not be able to get back to you right away.
Journalists serve as a mouthpiece for your company's agenda. Some people mistakenly believe that journalists are there to promote their company’s achievements and milestones. But journalists don’t work for you — they work for their readers. Their job is to report objectively, not to advocate for your brand. If you need someone to showcase your company’s accomplishments or promote your agenda, that’s where a PR agency comes in. (And if you're looking for one, I know a great team!)
By gaining a clearer understanding of the journalist’s role, you can build long-lasting relationships and increase the chances of getting your stories published while providing valuable content in return.
Supporting Communities in Crisis: Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
A couple of CJ Media’s clients have been directly impacted by Hurricane Helene's destruction, particularly in Western North Carolina. Both have launched GoFundMe pages to support team members in need and help them rebuild in the aftermath of the storm.
If you're able, please consider contributing to these efforts:
Every dollar counts — no donation is too small to make a difference.
“Tuesday’s Thanks” Host Brian Proctor Discusses Using AI to Optimize Non-Guest Facing Hospitality Processes
“I think that AI can be a vital tool for use in many of the non-guest facing functions. Finance, forecasting, procurement, inventory management, recipe management and development are but a few that can be streamlined by AI. This greatly reduces administration time for those key roles that could better use their time and energy on training and quality control.”
Uncovering the Personal Side of Stan Kozlowski: What You May Not Know About the CooperWynn Capital Executive
With more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience, Stan Kozlowski is the founder and principal of CooperWynn Capital. Stan has completed more than 100 hospitality transactions totaling more than $2.5 billion, including development, property level ownership, advising, workouts and restructurings, senior mortgages, mezzanine mortgages, strategic asset sales, private equity placement, and real estate valuations.
Prior to CooperWynn, he was the VP of hotel acquisitions at Glenmont Capital Management, a private equity firm that invested throughout the U.S. Stan was also the senior vice president at CBRE Hotels Finance, with responsibility for a variety of hospitality transactions and investment banking services for clients in the hotel sector.
Prior to CBRE, he was the co-founder and principal of Forestpark Capital Advisors and a principal at Neptune Hospitality Advisors.
In addition, he has held positions with HVS International, Hotel Partners, Sonnenblick-Goldman, and Insignia ESG.
Stan took some time to answer a few questions, giving our audience a chance to learn more about him.
If you could have dinner with any leader or innovator, past or present, who would it be and why? Tony Hseih, early in his career. I always admired his “don’t tell me that’s how it’s always been done” leadership and willingness to change from the “normal." Ten years ago, my wife reached out to him directly and he was kind enough to oblige her request of a personal note to me. I have had his handwritten “Follow your passion! Live in the Wow!” on my office wall ever since.
How do you like to unwind after a busy workweek? Oh, that’s easy! With a family of five going all different ways all week, for nearly a decade, our family practices FAF — Fall Asleep Fridays. What it translates to is no one makes plans for anyone else, and everyone is encouraged to relax after the week and fall asleep whenever they’d like — all afternoon/evening —as many times as you’d like. It’s a permission that started when our three kids were much younger but continues to be something we look forward to each week years later.
If you could work from anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? Being based in Park City, Utah, currently, I can’t say I’d change much right now. But in the future, it will be wherever my family is — and as they grow and move on to different phases of their lives, I look forward to wherever that may be.
From the Archives: Managing Political Conversations in the Workplace During and After the US Election
Spire Hospitality's Chris Russell shared his thoughts on managing political conversations in the workplace during and after the US election with the Hotel News Now audience.
“I look forward to the day when we can have a more open dialogue and even a healthy debate on the issues. Until then, my primary objective is to create a positive work environment, give back to the community, and help support the lives of my employees and family, who have given so much.”
Click here to access his entire column.
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Industry Events
The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, AZ (October 7-10, 2024)
Best Western Hotels 2024 Annual Convention in Charlotte, NC (October 21-23, 2024)
The Hospitality Show in San Antonio, TX (October 28-30, 2024)
The Extended Stay Hotel Forum in Dallas, TX (November 13, 2024)
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