Newspaper, radio layoffs, buyouts can work to your advantage

It’s time to say buh-bye to some of your favorite reporters.

Right now, all over the U.S., there’s an exodus of experienced, high-profile, high-priced journalists taking early retirement.

To boost profits, newspapers are offering buy-outs to some of their veteran staff members who will be replaced with cheaper, less experienced reporters and editors.

Here in Milwaukee, for example, the Journal Sentinel offered buyouts to about a dozen veteran writers and editors.  The same thing is happening at radio stations.

During yesterday’s private teleseminar with members of the Publicity Hound Mentor Program, I discussed a long list of ways Hounds can use this to their advantage.

If a beat reporter with whom you’ve established a great relationship leaves, make sure the reporter introduces you to the new person taking over the beat.

Then shift into the role of “educator” and help the new reporter understand your industry, its lingo, its idiosyncrasies and its trends.

–Invite the reporter to a “getting to know you” lunch.

–Ask “How can I help you?”

–Encourage the reporter to call on you for story ideas, background and commentary, day or night.