31. Becoming a News Source with Vincent T. Davis

Smart Talk Series

As a PR pro, some of the most important relationships you will form are with the media. In this episode, Melissa passes the mic to Vincent T. Davis, a reporter and columist at the San Antonio Express-News, for advice on cultivating beneficial and meaningful relationships with the media.
About Vince:
Vincent T. Davis is a general assignments reporter and columnist at the San Antonio Express-News. Every Monday morning, he shares intriguing tales of everyday people from across San Antonio in a column titled, “San Antonio Stories.” A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Davis started at the Express-News in 1999 as a part-time, editorial assistant for the City Desk, working nights and weekends while attending San Antonio College where he was on the staff of “The Ranger” newspaper. He completed a three-month fellowship with the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 2003 and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication design from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2006.
Email Vince at [e-mail]
Topics covered:
- How to be a good PR source
- The process of reviewing a pitch
- Creating and maintaining relationships with the media
- What makes a great human interest story
Actions to take:
- Be detail-oriented and timely
- Do your research
- Build a meaningful relationship with reporters
Resources mentioned:
- Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know
- San Antonio Stories
- "For a guy called Mr. Fiesta, passion for San Antonio’s annual festival runs deep"
- "San Antonio resident hands out water to MLK marchers in spirit of slain civil rights leader"
- MVW Communications
- PR Pro Gear