Sometimes the telephone rings and on the other end is a reporter. Maybe he or she is looking to write about your next fly-in or charitable event, or maybe looking to ask you questions about your club or a public policy issue. In some cases, you might see something in your newspaper that you think is inaccurate and you want to call or write to a reporter proactively. Regardless of the situation, there are a couple of things to remember whenever you’re dealing with the media:
- Please remember that whenever you talk or write to a reporter, you are representing not only yourself, but your club if you are affiliated with one, and the entire organization of AMA. If you are dealing with a sensitive or public policy issue, please let us know in advance by emailing us and we can help you prepare.
- Anything you say or write to a reporter can be quoted and can include your name. This is important to keep in mind, even if the conversation with the reporter feels casual and calm.
- It’s okay to ask the reporter what he or she is reporting on and what kind of information he or she is looking for. It’s also okay to say, “I don’t know” or “I’ll get back to you” if you are asked a question and you’re unsure about the answer.
- If you are comfortable with what the reporter wants to discuss with you, arrange a time for an interview that fits your schedule. This gives you some time to think about what you want to say. Let AMA know if you need assistance.
We know you’re passionate about model aircraft and AMA and we look forward to working with you to share that love with the media. Always remember, if you have questions about how to handle media requests, or if something feels “off” about a call from a reporter, please let AMA know so that we can help. For more information, please contact Chad Budreau at (765) 287-1256, ext. 227; chadb@modelaircraft.org; or Mandee Mikulski at (765) 287-1256, ext. 277; mandeem@modelaircraft.org.
I was the newsletter editor for ten years, so was usually the contact person. Our media people were always friendly. They helped us promote our annual air show after we convinced them that it was better for us to treat it as a coming attraction, rather than news of what happened over the last weekend.
I have devoted a page called “Demos” on the Flying Wolverines web site https://flynwolverines.com/ that explains why we may decline a request to show off our skills at an unfamiliar or unsanctioned site and this is related to the subject at hand,in that it shows that we must be careful and professional at all times. So this goes with the press, we must maintain our professional image, something that is increasingly hard to do in this age of “fake news”.