Press & Media Sections

Worth doing, what are the benefits, if any?

[ken_b]

More and more frequently I'm getting media requests to use photos from my site. Most of the time I'm happy to share. But with some photos I don't have authority to allow republishing. Most of the images on my site are not really suitable for their purposes as they appear on the site, and that's intentional on my part.

I do have higher quality originals though. And those are what I usually release, but I need to edit them a bit before sending them out, which I've been doing on an as needed basis.

So I've been thinking about setting up a media/press relations section where members of the established media could find the images that are available for their use.

I don't especially want to give a blanket ok to just anyone who wanders by and wants to nab a few photos. The requests I'm talking about are coming from mainstream established newspapers and TV shows.

Part of what I'm trying to get away from is having to edit the images on an "as needed" basis, which often seems to come with a very short timeline.

I'm wondering how to set this up.

Does anyone here have a media/press section like this and care to share the benefits and or hassles of such? What works well, what doesn't etc.

[iamlost]

As implied by your header "Press" and "Media" do deliniate slightly different offerings:

* One: Press: usually is confined to press releases by the site and/or company involved plus a press contact link. I recommend splitting into two:
- Press Releases: list the releases.
- Published Releases: list, with description, where your releases have been published as well as any commentary, quotes, etc. about your site/company/product/etc.

With companies with significant community interaction a speaking/events calendar is a great Press subsection. Often a source of relevant but "outside the contents" recip links (frequently changing) from various civic, govt, or org sites.

Also I have found an occassional use for an advertisements Press subsection where thumbnails of all site and/or company media ads (print, radio, tv, web) are shown by category, date, and type with description and ability to stream or show full size. Done correctly very beneficial to user interest, press interest, and useful contacts from press ad sales types. Again unusual (but highly relevant to page) link dev possibilities.

* Two: Media: This frequently splits further:
- Media Resources: basically a directory of links with description that may help media nitwits acquire a background and understanding of your company, products, niche, or industry. Reporters need to be spoon fed so feed them the story the way you want it regurgitated. Often very helpful recipricols result.

- Photos/Multi-Media/etc: This can be as simple as listing all your images for download with attached watermark/description or as interactive with requests as required. I have occassionally split this further to add subsections listing logos, personel profiles with pictures, pre-written company profile with pictures, awards, etc. I often see such sections enclosed within a catch-all subsection called "Press Kit"; my recommendation is do not: it will be ignored as PR stuff - labelling can be important.

Any bricks-and-mortor company site should make use of a press section. The benefits are great from PR through SEO. Totally online businesses or content sites should certainly consider the potential benefits. Whether they have enough content to justify a separate section is the critical decision.

I do have higher quality originals though. And those are what I usually release, but I need to edit them a bit before sending them out, which I've been doing on an as needed basis.

You do not say why you need to edit the images prior to release.

In my site design/maintenance I decide (with client) on the media to be available for release and upload it to the DB. On receipt of appropriate copyright use licence the requested images/multi-media are released, depending on client, via one-time log-in and download, e-mail, or ftp.

It does take time. It helps if items to be made available are decided upon, edited if necessary, watermarked, description attached, and uploaded as part of the sites ongoing maintentence cycle. Treat the contents (including images) of the Press section as you would a product or content category. If you don't see the similar value why bother?

[monkeythumpa]

A while back I saw a 10-second tip that had all this stuff and what should be on these pages. I went and created a page for press and advertising requests and it has saved me some time. Let me see if I can find it . . .

AllBusiness.com: Offer Your Press Kit on Your Web Site [allbusiness.com]

[ken_b]

iamlost;

Thanks! I've been surfing the web looking for similar website sections.

The tip about labeling is greatly appreciated.

Generally, what I'm finding that comes close to what I had in mind are labeled "media".

Often with-in the media section I'm seeing a subsection for either "news" or "Press Releases".

I would have just dumped this all in one bucket. Your explaination of the differences helps me sort this stuff out.

You do not say why you need to edit the images prior to release

I'm not that great a photographer. The smaller images that I put on the site have, for the most part, been cropped and/or tweaked a bit. The originals are still in the original untweaked state.