What the Media Really Needs from You: A Practical Guide for Government Communicators
1:00 – 2:00 p.m., March 24
Working with news media can feel unpredictable, but understanding how newsrooms operate can make all the difference. In this session, a former journalist turned municipal communicator breaks down how local newsrooms function, what reporters actually need from government communicators, and how to make your stories more newsworthy. Participants will learn how the news cycle works, what makes a strong media pitch, and how to prepare for interviews, events, and breaking news coverage. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to build stronger relationships with the media and ensure their community’s stories are told effectively.
Monica Landeros-Jimenez
Senior Communications Specialist
City of Allen
Monica Landeros-Jimenez is a Senior Communications Specialist for the City of Allen, Texas. While she has a long career in governmental public affairs and television news, Monica is recently back in the workforce after taking about a decade off to be a stay-at-home mom.
She previously served as the Mayor’s Public Affairs Officer in Jacksonville, Florida, supporting Mayor Alvin Brown and coordinating communications across multiple city departments. Before transitioning into government communications, Monica spent several years as a television news reporter in markets including First Coast News (ABC/NBC duopoly) in Jacksonville, Florida; FOX 11 News in Green Bay, Wisconsin; and HOI 19 News (ABC) in Peoria, Illinois.
She got her start interning at WGN-TV Morning News and NBC 5 Consumer News while attending the University of Illinois at Chicago.