News ‘em or lose ‘em

TV coverage is great exposure, and can be key to launching your product or initiative. That’s why so many companies want to do video news releases (VNRs) the TV version of the printed press release.

But most VNRs look like commercials, and TV stations want news.

So when the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) asked 3D to produce a VNR on its new rules to combat truck driver fatigue, we used our skills honed by decades as TV news reporters.

We conducted interviews with real truckers at a local truck stop; worked our news contacts to get dramatic video of highway truck accidents shot by real news photographers; wrote edgy, compelling copy, the kind TV news producers covethired a team of former television reporters to pitch the story; and coordinated the satellite feeds.

The result: The FMCSA video news release and the accompanying radio news release that 3D produced were seen and heard by millions of people. CNN and TV stations in major markets like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. all used our video.

“We had a critically important safety message that had to get out to the trucking industry, truckers and the driving public. Because many stations replayed the story several times we ended up reaching nearly thirty million people. We were thrilled.”

Dave Longo, Public Affairs Specialist, FMCSA, U.S. Department of Transportation.

View our full version DOT video (Dial-up Version)     (Broadband Version)