In the media, there is a stark gender gap. Not only are women in positions of power frequently the targets of sexist insults, but our voices are also disproportionately left out of important public conversations.
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Only 19% of news specialists are women, according to the Women’s Media Center. Less than 25% of OpEd writers are women. On Sunday talk programs, the average ratio of male to female guests is 4-to-1.
The fact that many women do not present themselves as experts and take the effort to approach media outlets with their work is one of the elements that contributes to this imbalance. Women frequently think that in order to be seen as reliable media sources, they must have more education or expertise. They undervalue the importance of their expertise overall.
Deciding that your voice matters is the first step towards sharing your skills. You have the ability to lead with compassion and as a cultural healer, influencing the dialogues that bring about change and increase awareness. These pointers can help you establish yourself as a media expert if you are prepared to speak up on the topics that really matter and accept the truth about your power and worth:
1. What area of expertise do you possess?
Limit it to a single, distinct subject. Now give three arguments for your subject-matter competence. Pay attention to the most impressive accomplishments and credibility elements. What would the chyron beside your name read if you were on television tonight? Give us a brief summary of who you are. It might be as easy as putting the word expert after your topic.
2. Which organizations do you belong to?
Join organizations that are relevant to you. Alternatively, make your own. New projects always pique the curiosity of media outlets. Remember that activism may be a route to knowledge as well. Invest time with groups who share your enthusiasm for the same problems. Make connections and show initiative to assume a leadership role.
3. Express yourself!
Make a free speaking offer to your neighborhood. Locate non-profits, businesses, or business associations in your area, and explain to them how your presentation may help their employees or clientele. Take a video of yourself and utilize the experience to get more employment. Don’t forget to request recommendations for more possible places. One step in developing a paid speaking career is to do this.
4. Write about your areas of expertise.
Launch a blog with an emphasis on your particular niche. Alternatively, ask a member of your network whether you may submit a guest article. With an issue-focused blog, you may begin modestly and work your way up to greater prominence. Reach out to bloggers and offer yourself as a source. You can approach more prestigious websites and submit an article once you’ve gained some experience and writing examples. To establish your media brand and boost your reputation, provide links to your pieces on your website.
5. Create a list of regional media outlets.
Find out what local reporters cover and who covers it. Establish connections with journalists who are curious about your area of expertise. Accessing local and regional news sources is typically simpler. By doing this, you will get the credibility you need to finally contact national news forums. Speaking on a tiny online radio program or for local newspapers will help you gain composure and confidence.
6. Construct a compelling pitch.
Select a hot topic for current events in your industry. Briefly summarize your argument, establish your credibility, and show yourself as an authority. Provide the reporter or producer with three succinct talking points to help them understand your message. Including a recent research, current affairs, or human interest component is beneficial. In your pitch, respond to the following queries: Why you? Why this time? What now? Make it very evident what is at risk. Don’t forget to set yourself apart from other coverage by saying something like, “The New York Times covered this, but here’s what they didn’t cover.”
7. Use social media to build genuine communities.
Create a Facebook profile of your own and connect with other online advocates for the same cause. People are not interested in being sold anything. They desire to participate in and add to an insightful conversation. Promote more than just yourself. Provide your followers with insightful and timely material, and concentrate on how you can motivate the entire community to take up your chosen cause.
8. Look for media leads from sources.
Make an application for a be included in an expert database like ExpertClick or SheSource. You may create and distribute your own news releases using PR Web. PR Leads provides a monthly membership service that allows requests from journalists and media outlets to be forwarded to your email address. The OpEd Project offers advice and training for writing comments, and Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is a free resource for locating leads that are urgent.
Try to rediscover your reasons for being enthusiastic about your chosen subject if you are feeling afraid or resistant to approaching the media. You will notice results if you make a commitment to building your media platform one step at a time.
Remain tenacious. You are worthy of being acknowledged.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid,” feminist author Audre Lorde once stated.
