Welcome to the December edition of Media Manoeuvres', Media Matters.

> FEATURE ARTICLE

The Dreaded Media Follow Up Call

Dos and Don'ts

"Hi this is Janey from AcmePR. I was just wondering if you received the press release on our new product."

This type of phone call is the bane of every journalist, editor, reporter and producer working in the media.

"I really hate the follow up call," said a leading Australian magazine editor.

"Ninety-nine times out of one hundred it is from a poor PR lackey that has been told to ring you and ask you this banal question and whether you are going to do a story on it."

The follow up call that has no value, does nothing except interrupt someone and ask him or her if they have received something they are likely to have received.

Not all media releases go out to the media never to be heard of again. They can be a valid source of news ideas. "If I see something in a media release that I think has value, then I will ring," said one Fairfax reporter. "In fact, I have rung several people today on the back of media releases."

Read more

> MEDIA BLOOPERS

Not strictly a blooper but watch what happens when this journalist reports on the burning of illegal crops. For your chance to win a Gold Class movie voucher, please submit your favourite media blooper or interview from YouTube, your organisation or other source to Michelle Adams on madams@mediamanoeuvres.com.au.

Watch the video

> EXPERT MEDIA COMMENTARY

Allan Craig on New Media

Watch this short video and hear Allan Craig talk about the role and value of new media in corporate communications.

Allan Craig joined the Media Manoeuvres team earlier this year. Allan's CV reads like a royal pedigree having worked as a reporter/senior reporter for ABC's Nationwide and the 7.30 Report, Bureau Chief for Network Seven's Real Life and Network 10's Page One, Executive Producer of Today Tonight in Melbourne and Supervising Producer of Channel 9's, A Current Affair.

He then jumped the fence to the "dark side" and moved into communications.

Before joining Media Manoeuvres, Allan was the Media Director for Olivia Newton-John's Great Walk to China. This was a huge role during which Allan secured an extensive amount of global media coverage in both traditional and new media.

Allan's role at MM is the Director of Media and Communications and he has recently developed a new public course: New Media - Its Role in Communications which debuted in Melbourne in October and is coming to Sydney on Thursday January 28, 2010.

For more information about this course and to register click here.

> BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS

Ray: Stories of my Life Ray Martin

This award-winning journalist well known as the face of The Midday Show, A Current Affair, 60 Minutes and Carols by Candlelight has written every word of this autobiography. A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the machinations of big TV corporations, such as ABC and Channel 9. For a chance to win a copy of this new best seller, simply test your knowledge with our 2 minute Quick Quiz.

> MEDIA MOMENTS QUIZ

Win Ray Martin's new autobiography "Ray: Stories of my Life" by trying your luck with our quiz.

The winner of last edition's Media Moments Quiz was Bernadette Rose from the Department of Juvenile Justice, NSW who wins a copy of Paul Barry’s book "Who wants to be a Billionaire?".

continue Media Moments Quiz

> COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS

salubrious \suh-LOO-bree-us\, adjective: Salubrious is from Latin salubris, "healthful," from salus, "health."

Favourable to health; promoting health; healthful.

A physician warned him his health was precarious, so he shelved his legal ambitions and searched for a salubrious climate.

Uptown, however, the tanners' less salubrious quarter is notorious for its stench.
"Byzantium", Toronto Star, February 7, 1999

> 2010 COURSES

The first course for 2010 will be our Writing for the Media course on 13 January in Melbourne. Learn the structure and sure-fire way of producing written work that has journalists marvelling at how there are finally communications people who know how to write media material properly and professionally. Guaranteed to make that hit rate skyrocket!

For a full course outline or to register click here.

Our popular Writing for Stakeholders, Gap Analysis and Key Message Development course will be held in Melbourne on February 10, 2010. This full day course will give you the opportunity to refine your key messages to narrow the gap between current perception and ideal perception. Learn the structure and science in preparing communications material to influence your key stakeholders.

Click here for a course outline and registration form.