News coverage refers to any news program, update or story, in any media format, devoted to reporting current events. This can include news broadcasts (such as NBC Nightly News), news magazines or television shows, and online or digital news outlets. It can also include political commentary or opinion pieces, such as editorials or political cartoons.
While news coverage has many positive impacts, it can also be a source of stress. This can be due to factors such as framing, media bias and priming. Framing is the way a news story is presented that influences how audiences interpret a situation. Media bias is the perceived or actual bias of journalists and news organizations in their reporting, impacting the objectivity of news coverage. Priming is when media coverage predisposes a person to a particular attitude or belief.
For example, if a story highlights only negative aspects of an event, such as the number of people living in poverty or the number of businesses closing down, it is considered episodic framing. A more holistic approach would be to take a thematic framing, which looks at how the problem has developed over time and examines potential causes.
To maximize your chances of getting news coverage, prepare comprehensive media kits with key messages and high-resolution images. Make yourself available for interviews and provide concise, quotable statements that align with your messaging and goals. Be sure to keep track of media coverage and engage with journalists by responding to their comments, thanking them for the coverage and participating in relevant discussions.