FAQ's
How we work.
What to expect and what our first conversation will look like.
How does your earned media service work?
We start with a free strategy call. If your story has a genuine angle that the media would be interested in, then you qualify for our earned media service. We put together a media pitch, find the people to tell the story and see if our media contacts will run it.
You approve the angle and messaging before anything goes to a journalist. If we do not land coverage, you do not pay. The fee is $699 per confirmed story.
This is not sponsored content or pay-for-play. Every placement is earned. A journalist runs the story because it is genuinely newsworthy. That is where the credibility comes from.
How does the retainer work?
We structure retainers around what your organisation actually needs. That might be a focused on proactive media pitches or crisis management. Or it might be a broader role where we are actively running your communications programme, writing content, fielding media and advising on strategy.
You get senior practitioners with more than forty years of combined experience across newsrooms, corporates and customer experience.
We work as a genuine extension of your team. That means we give honest advice, flag risks early and expect our clients to engage with the process. The organisations that get the most from us are the ones that treat this as a partnership.
Can you guarantee media coverage?
No. Anyone who guarantees earned media coverage is either paying for it or not being straight with you.
What we can tell you is whether your story has a realistic chance of landing. We assess that on the strategy call. If it does not stack up, we will say so. We will not take your money to pitch a weak story.
If your story does have legs and we take it on, our earned media service means you only pay when coverage is confirmed.
Do you work on one-off projects or retainers?
Both. Some organisations come to us with a single story, a product launch or a specific moment that needs media attention. Others want ongoing communications support.
We will tell you which approach makes sense after we understand what you are trying to achieve. There is no pressure to lock into a retainer. Plenty of great working relationships start with a single project.
Can you help in a crisis?
Yes. We offer 24/7 crisis communications support on retainer. We draft responses, manage media enquiries, prepare spokespeople and help your leadership stay calm and credible under pressure.
If you are not on retainer and something lands, get in touch. We will do what we can. But the best crisis response is the one you have already prepared for. That is where the retainer earns its keep.
What kind of content do you produce?
Articles, opinion pieces, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, website content and thought leadership. We also produce professional podcasts from concept through to distribution, including scripting, recording, editing, publishing and social media clips.
Everything is written in your voice and shaped around your expertise. We do not do generic content marketing. Every piece is built to position you as a credible authority in your space.
Why don't you name your clients publicly?
We do not name-drop our clients because their stories belong to them. Our job is to help shape the story, find the angle and get it in front of the right audience. Publicly claiming that work can undermine the client’s mana.
If we speak, we speak carefully. If you book a call, we can walk you through relevant examples privately.
What happens on a strategy call?
You tell us what you are trying to achieve. We listen, ask questions and give you an honest assessment of how we can help. If there is a story with legs, we will tell you. If there is not, we will say that too.
The call takes about an hour and it is free. By the end you will know whether we are the right fit and what the next steps look like.
How does pricing work?
Our earned media service is $699 per confirmed story. Retainers start from $1,499 per week. Standalone projects are scoped and priced upfront before any work begins. We like to provide flexibility depending on the budget, the most important thing for us is work we enjoy and a client we gel with.
We will always confirm what things cost before we start.
How quickly can we get started?
Book a strategy call. If we are a good fit, we can usually begin within a week. If there is urgency, we might even be able to start the same day!
Who you are working with
Two senior founders with more than forty years of combined experience across newsrooms, media strategy, corporate communications and customer experience. We have helped organisations land coverage across New Zealand’s most respected outlets.
TVNZ Breakfast Seven Sharp RNZ Newstalk ZB NZ Herald Stuff Newsroom Capital Letter NBR