AzNA hosts first Media Day

Arizona Nurse,  Mar 2003  

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Participants get 15 seconds to get their message across.

Kathy Player, RN, EdD, AzNA President, greeted members from all over Arizona with the goal of increasing the visibility of nurses and AzNA in the media. Alicia Wadas, AzNA's marketing consultant, briefed the audience on the essentials of working with the media. She stressed the importance of a "key message" that can be said in fifteen seconds or less. Even though an interview may last for an hour, the key message or "sound bite" is what a reporter will remember and report. Participants learned the importance of media relations and that there is no such thing as "off the record".

Media Experts Jean Dorame, RN, Fran Roberts, RN, PhD, Ray Kronenbitter, RN, BSN and Donna Zazworsky, RN, MS, CCM, FAAN, shared their personal experiences with the media. Each of them had a story to tell of being misquoted, thus emphasizing the need to be prepared before the interview. Each acknowledged the power of the media and importance of nurses' voices being shared with the public.

Beth McDonald, local radio personality, entertained guests during lunch with interesting and embarrassing moments during her 20 years of broadcasting in Arizona.

Later, participants were placed in the interview chair and questioned by Media Experts on such topics as the nursing shortage and bio-terrorism. Each individual received feedback, strengthening their skills with reporters.

Participants described Media Day as a "great program" and shared "What a wonderful opportunity" they had to learn media skills. Attendees left, vowing to pitch three or four stories to the media in the next year.

Copyright Arizona State Nurses Association Mar 2003
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