How to engage the media during COVID-19

As everyone continues to work from home and practice social distancing, including the media, due to COVID-19, it can be tricky to navigate the appropriate pitches to the media regarding client news.
I recently talked through the best way of pitching the local media about a client event, while still being sensitive and not turning a blind eye to the world around us. Our PRGN partner, Three Box Strategic Communications offers some great tips on how to engage the media during the current pandemic. In addition to those, I would add:

Know when your local elected officials will be hosting their media briefings
With newsrooms already being short-staffed, make sure you are aware of the other community events taking place around you. During these critical times, they aren’t likely to take the call

Thought-leadership
This may be the time to develop white papers and opinion pieces. Magazines, trade journals and even the weekly business publications may be more open to well-written and timely pieces, both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related.

Media train your sources
Be sure your sources are ready to be interviewed in this new social-distancing environment.  Abbie offers some tips on being a good virtual resource.

Be patient
In this time, it is important to remember to be patient as resources and capabilities for the media are strained right now. Be able to adapt and even offer up experts for stories they may already be working on.
What other tips do you have for reaching the media right now?