News alert is a Google service that monitors the web for new results that contain your chosen keywords. It’s an efficient way to keep up with mentions of your brand, competitors or industry keywords — and can help you identify opportunities for publicity.
A media alert (also called a media/news advisory) is a one-page announcement of an upcoming event intended specifically for journalists, not the public. It’s used to convince reporters that your event is a genuine news story worthy of coverage.
To craft impactful media alerts, you must understand what journalists want to read about. Then, you can use a mix of strategies to elevate your PR game and make an impactful impression.
To start, your media alert must have a captivating headline that grabs the attention of the reporter and tells them why this matter is worth their time. It should also include all the vital information of your event – the Who, What, Where and When. If a newsmaker like your mayor, governor, senator or member of Congress is attending, this should be included in the alert as well. Lastly, include the contact information of someone reporters can call for more information or to schedule an interview. This makes it easy for them to follow-up and write an article about your event. This is how you get them to come back for more. For more tips on how to create an impactful media alert, click here.