What do you put in a Media Pack?

There are several reasons in the creative industries that you may require a media pack. When you are guesting on a podcast, any interview opportunities, speaking engagements, building collaborations and potentially sponsorships. These are created as your one stop information package to send out. It could be through a google link, or an email, as long as the information gets through.

Visual sound

What are the basic ingredients?

1. Biography (Long and Short version)

2. Contact information

3. Images of self and previous creations

4. Previous Achievements and Statistics

5. Testimonials

6. Services you offer

7. Media release

When should you put one together?

A media pack needs to be current, so it is best to keep it a live document. The last thing you want is for your biography to go stale, saying that you have a new born, when realistically that child just his double digits. Or saying that you are a new author when you have actually released a dozen books. So the media pack needs to be collated as soon as you have decided that you are a serious creative and then you can add to it along the way. Change it when you need to and update it regularly (quarterly, half yearly or annually depending on your frequency of use). Don't be afraid to archive the items that aren't relevant to your current position.

Please note: I am focussing my information for Authors and Podcasters as that is what I have the most experience in.

Biography

This is your online introduction to people and can feel a little intimidating the first time that you have to put one together. But once you have put it together the first time, you will be able to tweak it going forward.

Here are some questions to consider before writing your bio.

• Who are you? What is your name?

• What is your creative passion?

• When did you start? What led you to the creative path?

• Where do you hail from? Where do you create?

• What is your favourite thing about being a creative?

• What is your favourite think about the industry?

• How do you create? What is your approach to creativity?

• What do you do outside of your creating? Do you have any side quests?

• Who supports/inspires you?

Think about these questions and answer them while adding your own unique style. Size is important, it is good to have a short bio available and a longer one depending on the situation. The short bio is just a few sentences showing highlights or hooks. The long bio is a couple of paragraphs and will go a little deeper.

Contact information

This is the contact information that you are happy to be available to the public.

Things to include

• Active Social Media Accounts

• Email address

• Website

• Phone Number (noting if it is personal or not)

Images of Self and Previous us creations

Make sure that any images that you include have high quality resolution and you have some varying sizes as some media sources have specifications that you are required to meet.

Previous work and statistics

If you are a podcaster then it would be the amount of episodes that have been released and the listener ship.

If you are an Author then it will be the previous book that you have written and sales metric if you are happy to share them.

This could also include previous guest appearances and articles about you. Recent news coverage or anything that supports your experience.

Testimonials

This one is not essential but is a bonus. It is good to have some testimonials from other to provide some honest feedback about your character.

Services

What appearances are you available for? What services do you provide? Do you have any additional qualifications that allow you to do complimentary services?

Media release

The media release is generally a one page summary for a particular item or newsworthy event. It is very handy for book releases.

Bonus

If there is something outside the box that you think will add value to your media pack then it should be added. Just remember, the intent is to make it easier for people to see who you are. If you give them too much if could be overwhelming. The presentation of your media kit may be their first impression of you.

I hope that you find the information about media packs helpful. Please contact if you would like further information. I have only just started putting my media pack into a sharable google drive and it has been wonderful to send the link out instead of putting it all in an email.