In this episode of Care Home PR and Marketing Podcast, Adam James and Samara Ullmann of Springup PR reveal how to get regional news TV coverage for care homes – to amplify awareness, boost staff morale and positively impact residents and their families.
They focus on how care homes can craft compelling stories and how securing media coverage for care homes can drive community engagement and contribute to enhancing their reputation in the local area.
Adam and Samara provide insights into the strategy behind media pitches, explaining how a strong human interest angle is key to capturing a journalist’s attention.
In the episode Samara and Adam discuss:
- The power of media exposure and how “TV coverage brings incredible benefits—not just for awareness, but for boosting staff morale and making families and residents feel proud”.
- Why care homes should target individuals aged 45+, who are more likely to consume traditional media such as the 6 pm news.
- The “ripple effect “of TV coverage and how this can lead to immediate calls to care homes, asking about the specifics of the story, like how they improved residents’ lives.
- Why it’s crucial to “hijack the news agenda,” using current events to create relevant stories about care homes helping to address these issues.
- The importance of visual storytelling for TV with stories needing a visual element to capture attention, “whether it’s music therapy, dog therapy, or even a piano performance by a blind resident”.
- Why care homes should focus on human stories that highlight the benefits to the individual, their family, and the wider community.
- Why local journalists are eager to share positive, uplifting stories from care homes that benefit both residents and the community.
- Why the local press love stories where care homes engage with their community, “like a care home donating food from its allotment to a local food bank”.
- The importance of media training and why it’s important to “ensure that the spokesperson feels comfortable and confident.”
- The pitching process, “making sure to send a clear, concise email with a full package for the journalist: the story, interview opportunities, and what they can film.”
- Why you shouldn’t pitch stories when there’s a regional crisis happening, “wait until journalists are less busy with breaking news,” for the best chance of success.
- The importance of building relationships with journalists by picking up the phone and speaking directly to the news desk to ensure your pitch is received well.
- How care homes can shine in the media though “a bit of preparation and the right story,” to present themselves positively in the media, benefiting both their reputation and their community.