8:30–9:45 a.m.
Plenary Session I
The New Rules of Media Pitching for Higher Education: Boost Your Credibility and Placements Despite Shrinking Coverage
The turbulence in the media and the rise of blogs have changed the pitching game. This session will reveal what your teams should be doing – and probably aren’t – to win over PR-wary journalists and bloggers. Learn how the shift in the media landscape is creating new opportunities that some schools are using to dramatically boost their mainstream media coverage even as the number of traditional outlets and journalists dwindles.
Michael Smart, national news director, BrighamYoung University, and media consultant

You’ll learn:

• The subconscious test every journalist and blogger immediately applies to your pitch that has nothing to do with newsworthiness
• 4 ways to frame routine higher ed happenings into newsworthy angles journalists and bloggers crave
• 3 approaches that used to alienate journalists that now leave them thanking you and asking for more