PR Account Executive Encourages Client Curiosity and Research

We’re happy to feature NMC Account Executive Kevin Gove as today’s Maine Maven.

Kevin joined the NMC team in 2002. Kevin develops and implements media relations campaigns, writes news releases, pitches story ideas and oversees social media engagement on behalf of clients. Kevin previously worked as a freelance PR consultant, and was a sports reporter at the Sun Journal newspaper in Lewiston, Maine.

He is a graduate of the University of Maine Department of Communication and Journalism with a bachelors degree in mass communication and a minor in public relations. Kevin is a native of Auburn, Maine, and lives with his wife and son in Bowdoin.

1.) Kevin, you have been with NMC for nearly 10 years, and have been an account executive since 2005. How did you start working in PR and what has made you stick with it for so long?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and helping people, and I had an interest in someday working in community relations for the Boston Celtics before I started high school.

My first work experience in PR was as a student assistant in the athletic media relations and athletic marketing offices in the University of Maine Athletic Department. I had internships in the community relations department at WCSH-6 TV in Portland and at the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce in Lewiston during college, and those jobs only strengthened my desire to work in the PR field.

I started a job as a freelance PR consultant for the Maine Hospice Council two days after graduating from UMaine, and was hired by NMC a few months later.

My job enables me to do what I love. I get to write about interesting things, places and people, and share story ideas (the helping people part) that I know can become a great story if given to the right person.

2.) You work with a variety of clients at NMC. What is a tactic that you use across the board whether you are working with a smaller, locally owned organization or a department of the state?

One tactic is to constantly be curious about my clients. I’m always looking for unique and interesting story ideas to pitch to media, and I know that asking questions, doing web research, and learning about the history of places will lead to ideas that can be great stories.

Another tactic is to get to seek out media outlets and writers who cover the kind of news I am sharing and learn what they are interested in writing about. My goal is to get media coverage for a client, but that won’t happen if I’m pitching an idea that someone has no interest in touching.

3.) What role do you see social media playing today in PR? 

Well, last week Facebook was the source for two media results that I didn’t know existed. A lot of freelance writers NMC works with now have Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and blogs that they need content for, so social channels have actually expanded opportunities for client stories to be shared.

Media of all types are seeking story ideas through Facebook and Twitter, making it very important to Like and follow reporters, writers and editors.