Power of Online Newsrooms (Part Two)

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on the importance of having online newsrooms. This is the second part of that blog posting, specifically outlining what you need to include in an online pressroom.

Online newsroom have an enormous capacity to help law firms, including helping them to put their best foot forward when cultivating relationships with the media. By providing media-friendly materials, on the firm's website available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, law firms increase the odds of a reporter contacting them, for help on stories they are working on. Furthermore, a good online newsroom may be the difference between having multiple column inches and just a mention in a story.

So here's what the law firm needs at the very minimum:

1. Press releases - all law firm releases should be arranged in a chronological order.

2. Fact sheets, these essentially give snippets of important information, such as statistics, news that will trigger or help as background information when reporters are working on stories.

3. Contact information of media relations professionals or attorneys designated as  media spokespersons for the firm.

4. News clippings of the firm. Organize them by date, include the title and link to article. Don't forget to include all radio and television interviews as well.

5. List subject areas, within each practice group that attorneys can talk to the press in depth. This is great way to trigger story ideas.

6. Photos and bios.

7. White papers.

8. All articles authored by attorneys.

9. List all past and upcoming speaking engagements.

10. Don't forget to add any books or chapters of books written by attorneys, particularly by lawyers designated to speak to the press.

To get a basic primer on media relations or to find out how media relations can specifically help your law firm call me directly at (212) 661-9137 or email me at pmahli@suncommunicationsgroup.com.