It’sthe perfect case study: Juan Vides had no idea what to expect when he walked into the Fair Media Council’s annual Connection Day conference.
After all, he’d never attended before, and knew little about the Fair Media Council. But, some of his friends were going to the event, so he basically decided to tag along for the day.
Next thing he knew, he was being featured on WNYW/FOX5.
And it happened because of FMC Connection Day.
In fact, people and their stories finding their way into the news stream is a regular occurrence at FMC Connection Day.
FMC Connection Day is the largest conference in the country to bring media and community together for a day of open dialogue, relationship building, story pitching and mutual understanding. Some people attend and take notes. Others, like Vides, put the event directly to work for them.
Here’s the case study of how he did it:
- He went out of his comfort zone to try something new. Going to an event filled with news media — names you see in bylines, faces you see on TV — can seem a pretty daunting task. Even established media relations professionals admit it can be intimidating to be face-to-face with the media.
- He networked, and actively engaged people in conversation. Sure, you can say hello to someone and hand out a business card, or you can choose to make yourself memorable. Vides walked over to people, introduced himself and started up conversations, one on one. He asked questions, made eye contact, and said thank you. He openly appreciated the people he met.
- He listened. Instead of simply attending the workshops, he listened to what the panelists had to say and put the advice to use right on the spot. The most important thing he learned that day? This from Newsday’s Bob Keeler: Make friends with reporters. Vides said he never thought about that before, but realized it was sage advice.
- He participated. He worked the networking breaks, and took the time to meet the speakers in the workshops. He didn’t spend his free time answering his emails. Instead, he was fully present at the event.
- He made the time to be there. Everyone’s busy. Attending a full-day conference is a big commitment, especially when you run a small business, like Vides. Some people consider attending a conference as time away from work. Vides saw it as an opportunity to learn how to market his company better and therefore, a vital part of his job.
Not long after Connection Day, Vides and his company joined the 200-plus organizations that comprise the Fair Media Council. We’re glad he did, and we thank WNYW-FOX5 for participating in Fair Media Council events and staying in touch with the community.
Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 is the next FMC Connection Day. Mark your calendar now.