 How to Get in the Media
Your best bet to get into the media is to practice your sport as much as possible. You have to be up to par with the other athletes in magazines, contests and videos in order to get into the media yourself. Watch videos and figure out what other athletes are doing. If you are as good as, or better than, some of those athletes, you have a good chance of getting into a magazine or video. Make sure to keep a level head about it though, attitude is key... don't have an oversized ego. Every media outlet is always out to break a new story and be innovative in as many ways as possible. Whether it be a big personality or a finely-tuned and highly-skilled athlete, they are looking for the next big thing. You have to make yourself stand out amongst the other hundreds or thousands of athletes that are trying to get into the same position as you. You have to come up with great ideas and innovative practices that put you on a different level than the next guy or girl. Whether it is something as easy as changing your look or something crazy like doing jumping the SponsorHouse RV on a mountain bike, you have to make the call for what is best for you. The key to doing this is staying true to yourself. Let your true personality shine through, but amplify it a lot. When you're in the public eye, try to exemplify your personality and showcase your talents and personality to their max. If that means going overboard, try to do it without offending people (this can shy sponsors and media away from you). Become a larger than life personality, promote your positive strengths and play down your weaknesses. Now you have to contact the appropriate media outlet for your coverage. Call the magazine or video company you want to work with and tell them your idea for a shoot. If they turn you down, say thanks and keep coming up with ideas. Media coverage, as with all aspects of life, requires a lot of perseverance and repeated attempts. Hang in there!
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