Skip to main content

Getting good news about your HOA

It's challenging, getting the media to run good news about an HOA, but it can be done...carefully.

You need to identify something good going on -- something newsworthy -- because capturing the imagination of editors and reporters can be extremely challenging. There's a lot of news and publicity competing for coverage. Recently, we've seen some examples of positive news where HOAs honored emergency responders and other public service workers for addressing community needs.

Sending a press release to your local newspaper or other media may get attention, or there may be an opportunity to contact a reporter by phone or email -- maybe someone you already know -- to discuss what's happening at your HOA.

But before you make contact, you need to think through a number of things:
  • Just about any time you're in touch with a reporter, generally everything's on the record. What you say or write can be used in a story. Even something mentioned casually, off-the-cuff. You'll need to think carefully about what you're planning to say...or email.
  • It's a good idea to try to anticipate questions the reporter might ask.
  • After you've anticipated questions, ask yourself if you have at hand solid information about the event or activity you'd like to publicize? So you can respond to any questions that might be asked. But if you've missed something and can't immediately respond to a particular question, you might explain to the reporter...I'll need to get back to you with further information.
  • You're trying to publicize good news about a positive event, but is anything happening at your HOA -- anything controversial -- that could somehow be brought to a reporter's attention? Especially if the reporter visits your HOA to cover the story? What if a resident who's disgruntled about something or other happens to stop by as you're being interviewed. This can happen. An unhappy homeowner gets the reporter's attention. Try to be prepared for almost anything that might occur.
(For more information, contact us at: hoastrategic@gmail.com)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houston!! We have an issue!

Two dinosaur sculptures in the front yard of a home located in an HOA in the Houston area just made ABC 13 Eyewitness News. The homeowner said "she's been contacted (by the HOA) and asked what her plans were" for the dinosaurs, a T-Rex and a Velociraptor. The homeowner's "plans are directly tied to their plans," according to the TV-news story. "She says she is prepared to contest any request that they be removed. It's about creativity, not conformity." Here's the thing about media coverage of just about anything...of organizations like HOAs, business firms and all the rest. It's the question of whether or not -- to what extent -- media coverage might influence situations and outcomes. When organizations -- and their policies -- are in the news, will media coverage influence policy decisions? Keeping in mind, of course, the key role of governing documents in policies and procedures.
2 comments
Read more

What Homeowner Associations Can Teach Governments About Spending

by Harvey Radin People in government should take field trips to well-run homeowner associations. To experience fiscal responsibility first hand. To see how elected leaders in some homeowner associations -- HOAs -- are actually spending public money prudently and efficiently. Like governments, homeowner associations collect money to fund a host of community needs. Homeowners residing in HOAs pay dues to their association. This is similar in a way to government taxation. So, if there are roads in an HOA property that are not city-maintained streets, a portion of the money homeowners pay in dues may be set aside for the upkeep of these roads. Governments use tax dollars for public parks maintenance. Homeowner associations have what's known as common areas, landscaped parcels of HOA property that are often maintained by the homeowner association. Some HOAs assume responsibility for roof maintenance on homes, and painting maintenance. Some have recreational facilities that are mai
Post a Comment
Read more

Red Flags

"Fuzzy, terrible writing" is "costing American businesses nearly $400 billion every year," reports the Daily Beast. "Poorly written emails and documents...can result in lawsuits," according to a Georgia newspaper, The Monticello News. These costs slip up on organizations like homeowner associations and their property management companies. We see potential problems all the time in meeting minutes, emails, newsletters and website content. With a word or two causing confusion and misunderstandings. You know how this works. Spotting red flags is what we do. Reach us at hoastrategic@gmail.com
Post a Comment
Read more