The Maine CU League hosted a training session on media relations that included the business editors of Maine's largest newspaper and largest business journal. The three-hour training was the first offered by the League that focused solely on helping credit unions develop strong and positive relationships with local media outlets. Eric Blom, Business Editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, and Sean Donahue, Associate Editor for Mainebiz, participated in a panel discussion that provided insight on getting coverage and answered questions from participants.
Blom, who has worked on a variety of beats for a number of newspapers nationwide, commended Maine's credit unions for "being proactive in understanding how the media works and what is newsworthy." Donahue encouraged credit unions to "form personal relationships with reporters and editors and provide information that helps reporters do their jobs."
Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine CU League and who has 25 years of experience in communications and public relations, provided a presentation that examined the value of media relationships and important tips to remember when communicating a message to the media.
