A news alert is a notification that is sent to the media to tell them about an event or initiative. It is often similar to a media release, however it is geared specifically to the needs of journalists and is usually shorter. A good media alert will clearly communicate the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) and include a point of contact for further information. Including a compelling quote from someone involved can help add credibility to the message and increase the likelihood of getting coverage.

The best time to send a news alert is in the morning when readers are most active on their mobile devices. Creating an engaging news alert that is relevant to their day-to-day lives can drive reader engagement and help your content stand out from other sources of news.

In addition to sending breaking news alerts, it is important to also create non-breaking news content and share this with the media when possible. This will give your community the opportunity to stay engaged with your content throughout the day.

Setting up alerts for your organization, brand name, competitors, industry keywords and more is a great way to keep up with any mentions of your business in the media. This allows you to track positive and negative sentiments about your business, respond quickly to any questions or concerns, and use this knowledge to optimize your marketing strategy. This is especially helpful in a world where audiences are increasingly being exposed to news from social media and other sources outside of traditional journalism outlets.