A news alert is a short and concise announcement of an event or opportunity, specifically intended for journalists. Also known as a media advisory or news release, it’s a great way to let reporters know that an event they might be interested in covering is taking place. This type of news alert should be crafted to pique reporters’ interest and encourage them to investigate further.
A media alert should always include what’s known as the “5 Ws”: who, what, when, where, and why. This is the basic information that reporters need to write a story about an event. The more detailed the information is, the more credibility it will have. This can be in the form of first-hand reports, statistics and figures, quotes from individuals involved, or opinions from experts.
When creating a news alert, be sure to include the name of a person who can be contacted for more information about an event or topic. Reporters will often follow up on stories to get more information, and having a go-to source will make this process much easier.
Setting up a Google Alert is a simple way to stay on top of new developments related to your business or industry. You can choose to get alerts as they happen, or on a regular schedule (once a day, once a week, etc.). You can also use the tool to keep track of your own content – for example, you can set an alert for any keywords that are important to your company.
About the Author
