PR Newswire's Meet the Media Event

PR Newswire's Meet the Media Event

LONDON, February 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --



An evening with Simon Jack of BBC Radio 4's Today programme



The first Meet the Media of 2015 was hosted at One Great George Street, the home of
the Institute of Civil Engineers, and featured Simon Jack giving an insight into the
workings of the Today programme.



To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:



http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7447651-meet-media-simon-jack



Simon has worked across every outlet at the BBC, presenting business news on the one
o'clock, six o'clock and ten o'clock news and as the face of BBC Breakfast's business
news. He is currently the Business and Economics Presenter on Radio 4's Today Programme.



The reach of the programme dwarfs that of national newspapers with an audience of 7
million. Simon hosts the business slot at 6.15am which is listened to by an audience of
almost exclusively ABC1 professionals. Simon explained to the PR and communications
professionals attending the event that this is the opportunity to "talk about issues that
affect you and your clients".



The Today team are always looking for stories which will migrate listeners from Radio
2 or Radio 5 Live, so items that will appeal to a broad audience are ideal. Thematic
pieces work well for the programme and stories on housing, energy, banks and personal
finance are perennial favourites.



Simon gave some useful tips on the type of content that will work well and the best
way to pitch the team:



"What we want to know is there is something that the business community knows that we
don't know for ourselves. For example, the Marks and Spencer boss telling us the nation's
favourite sandwich or the boss of Dulux the favourite colour that people paint their
walls. These may sound like frivolous examples but people love these stories and you hook
them with those kinds of insights."



"And don't ring up with a story idea at 9.15am which has been on at 8.10am!" he added.



PRs should familiarise themselves with the content of the programme, the powers that
be want to know you're a listener before giving you airtime.



"Today's listeners are incredibly sensitive to spin so don't talk to your clients
before they come on air". Be ready for a conversation, not a pitch.



Simon also revealed that they don't use phone interviews on the programme, all items
are broadcast face-to-face from the studio so the team can chip in and add to the warmth
and conversational nature of the programme.



After Simon's talk there was a lively Q&A with the audience followed by drinks,
nibbles and networking.



The goal of Meet the Media is to enable communications professionals to hear from
leading media organisations on how their respective companies work, providing insight into
their specialist areas, giving advice on achieving coverage and informing them on
effective targeting of journalists within their sector and how to build a mutually
beneficial relationship.



The next Meet the Media will be held in London in the spring, details to be announced
soon.



Communicate magazine are running a series of Meet the Media interviews with key
journalists to complement PR Newswire's events.
http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/currentissuemenu/5811-meet-the-media-toby-green



To register and receive more information on future events email
marketinguk@prnewswire.co.uk



To receive updates via twitter follow http://www.twitter.com/meetthemedia




Contact:
Imogen Powell-Shaw
Marketing Manager
PR Newswire
Phone: +44(0)20-7454-5335
marketinguk@prnewswire.co.uk






Video:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7447651-meet-media-simon-jack


Video:http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7447651-meet-media-simon-jack
PR Newswire


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