Why Weekend, Night Events Don’t Work For Media

By Chris Pugh

 

Timing means everything when planning an event in hopes of attracting media coverage.

 

Here’s why scheduling your event for a weekend night will limit your chances of having media members covering it.

 

 

We live in a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week news cycle, but there are definite times when it slows down.

 

Fridays mark the end of the traditional work week for most reporters. 

 

Many news outlets, at best, have one or two reporters on staff for nights and

weekends. 

 

With limited coverage, it’s a tough task to get media coverage during these times. Athletic contests and other nightly events compete for attention. And with limited reporters, any breaking news will also draw outlets away from your event.

 

 

Regarding newscasts and publications, audiences generally are more significant on weekdays.

 

For newspapers and online editions, the Sunday edition usually has more stories, but early deadlines call for the stories to be completed before the weekend begins.

 

If you hold an event on a weekend, there is a less likely chance that it will be covered, which limits its overall reach.

 

In addition, many news outlets have a reduced audience on the weekends.

 

Even if your event does receive coverage, it may not reach as many people as it would earlier in the week.

 

Also, news organizations often focus on different topics on weekends rather than during the week. These include human-interest stories, lifestyle features, or weekly news wrap-ups. 

 

Major weekend events don’t always fit with those parameters and often get passed up by media outlets.

 

 

We recommend scheduling your event on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the most attention. If you can, more reporters are available during the day, but night events during the week can work as well if necessary.

 

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Chris Pugh is the Media Relations Manager for Spotlight PR LLC. Check out all blog posts and subscribe for regular communications updates.