TV3 now!

Bad game plan, Tigers. Seriously, wrong tactics. Accept this friendly  advice from a long time media pro - and Nix fan.

How will TVOne know you're pissed off with their football coverage unless you tell them? Simply changing  channels is not always the answer.  

For example, there's been a lot of criticism on this forum about Veitchy and his Nix "put-downs" on TVOne news segments. How do you defend that? Go on the attack. But in the right way.

When he's back on air, ring him on his morning show on Radio Sport.

Challenge what you believe is his anti-Nix attitude. Make him defend his position. But think through your argument before you make it. 

Warning: don't be rude. Abuse is a waste of time and does the Nix cause no good at all. Remember, the host has a "dump" button (he can "red card" you in a second).  

But, wait, there's more. Ring other Radio Sport shows. Let other hosts - and listeners - know you don't like Veitchy's attitude.  

Do be supportive of people like Brendon Telfer who says a lot that's positive about the Nix and NZ football in general. Let him know you appreciate what he's doing. 

Other things you can do: ring TV3 every time they run a positive Nix story. The old media refrain is they only hear the complaints. Never praise. Give them a big pat on the back when it's deserved.  

Do the same for TVOne. Praise them (where applicable), but also let them know when they get it wrong. 

If they pick up a trend - they're "pissing-off" Nix fans big time! - they'll take note. Both channels need every viewer they can get in a tight media market.

To summarise: if all the talk stays on this forum, it won't reach the media people who make the decisions.

The answer is to ring, write, use all the media outlets available to make your pro-football and pro-Nix voices heard.

Yellow Fever is very vocal at home games.

Time to channel some of that football fever and energy into the media lion's den.

To summarise: if all the talk stays on this forum, it won't reach the media people who make the decisions.

The answer is to ring, write, use all the media outlets available to make your pro-football and pro-Nix voices heard.

Yellow Fever is very vocal at home games.

Time to channel some of that football fever and energy into the media lion's den.

Terrific idea about a media contact list on this site. Are you listening Hard News? 

To state the bleeding obvious - TV channels love pictures. If you can give them a story that could make their viewers laugh or cry, they'll bite.

But� don't let one TV channel talk you into an "exclusive". That's their way of trying to spoil it for the other side. They might decide not to turn up at all if bigger stories crop up during the day. However, knowing the story might turn up on the opposition channel is a powerful motivator for them to do as they promised.   

Tougher to play one-against-the-other with newspapers as there may be only one game - daily paper - in your town/area. But don't overlook the weekly "freebies". They may have a modest print run, but someone will read them and the idea is to keep the Nix name top of mind. Think dripping tap!

Another handy hint - if you do ring a news outlet to try and sell them on a story, find out the name and job description of the person you talk to. You might want to go back to them.

If reporters, or the editors who assign them to cover stories realise you have decent story ideas, they'll soon treat you as a "good contact" (as opposed to a pest!), someone they''re happy to hear from. (Just don't swamp them with every idea you get.)

And as the relationship grows, invite them to anything locally that's Yellow Fever or Nix related. Barbeques, pub crawls, whatever.

Even if it doesn't produce a story, you might succeed in turning some media contacts into converts.