Matt RamosPublic relations & communications

I help businesses get their stories into the news.

I’m Matt, a PR Specialist at Longhouse. I work directly with founder and CEO Keenan Beavis to build awareness of his work and the business through media outreach and relationships with other organizations.

See my work
01 / MEDIA RELATIONS

Media relations

A selection of coverage and interviews from my media relations work at Longhouse.

CBC News image of Marcus in a blue jiu-jitsu gi holding a certificate above his headWatch the CBC News feature
FEATURED PROJECT / CBC

Celebrating a pioneer of Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Bringing a local martial arts story to television

A milestone celebration for Marcus, a long-term Longhouse client, became an opportunity to tell the story of his contribution to Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Canada.

I researched journalists whose interests connected with martial arts and pitched a Langley jiu-jitsu gym’s 30th anniversary. My work included finding the right CBC contact, writing the pitch and press release, and coordinating interview availability. The story became a CBC television news feature.

My contribution
Researched journalist interests, identified a relevant CBC contact, and developed a targeted pitch around the gym’s 30th anniversary.
The outcome
A CBC evening news feature that helped bring recognition to Marcus as “The Father of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Canada.”
Watch the CBC feature (opens in a new tab)
Keenan Beavis in an APTN National News interviewBROADCAST / FOUNDER VISIBILITY

APTN News

Connecting Keenan’s story with a national Indigenous news audience

I pitched Keenan Beavis’s recognition as the CCIB’s National Young Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year to APTN. I helped coordinate the interview around his travel schedule and the newsroom’s deadline, leading to a television news feature.

Watch the APTN interview (opens in a new tab)
CCIB STORY / PODCAST

Canada’s Entrepreneur

Building on an award with a longer conversation

My media relations work around Keenan’s CCIB recognition included a podcast appearance on Canada’s Entrepreneur, giving him space to discuss his experience building a business.

Listen: CCIB award conversation (opens in a new tab)
Portrait of journalist Mario ToneguzziAI & SEO / VIDEO

Mario Toneguzzi: AI SEO

Creating an opportunity to discuss industry expertise

I worked on a media relations project with Mario Toneguzzi focused on AI and search engine optimization, bringing Longhouse’s perspective into a conversation about changes affecting businesses.

Watch the AI SEO conversation (opens in a new tab)
Keenan Beavis, founder and CEO of Longhouse.Community feature

Abbotsford Community Foundation

Sharing a story of community involvement

An Abbotsford Community Foundation feature on Keenan Beavis’s commitment to youth and community, included here alongside my outreach and relationship-building work with community organizations.

Building a Legacy: Keenan Beavis’ Commitment to Youth and Community

Read the community feature (opens in a new tab)
02 / BUSINESS STORYTELLING

B2B relationships and campaigns

Alongside media outreach, I help Longhouse build relationships with businesses and community organizations. This includes supporting brand collaborations and researching the right contacts for scholarship campaigns.

Scholarship and community outreach

Finding the people who can help a campaign reach further

For scholarship campaigns, I research relevant organizations and identify the people to contact about reaching eligible applicants. This work involves understanding who a campaign is for and connecting with people who can help it reach that audience.

HOW I WORK

How I approach media relations

  1. 01 /

    Understand the story

    I start by asking questions. What happened, why does it matter now, and what can we offer a journalist beyond a company announcement?

  2. 02 /

    Research the journalist

    I read their recent coverage to understand their beat, the stories they follow, and what matters to their audience.

  3. 03 /

    Find the right contact

    I look for their professional contact details and check for pitching preferences. That research helps me reach the person who actually covers the subject.

  4. 04 /

    Shape the pitch

    I connect the story to their coverage and format. A television pitch needs a visual opportunity; a business feature needs a relevant angle and people who can speak to it. I make the reason for reaching out clear.

  5. 05 /

    Coordinate the details

    When there’s interest, I help arrange the interview and gather the information the journalist needs. I keep everyone clear on availability and deadlines.

  6. 06 /

    Follow through

    I follow up thoughtfully and stay available for questions. After publication, I review the coverage to understand what resonated and what I can learn for the next pitch.

03 / A LITTLE ABOUT ME

Good relationships are at the heart of my work.

I work in PR, with a focus on media relations and building connections that lead to opportunities. I have an eye for finding an angle worth pursuing and helping people see the value in a story they might otherwise overlook.

I’m comfortable starting conversations and getting to know what matters to people. I put care into those relationships beyond the initial introduction, because I want people to feel confident working with me again.

I’m based in British Columbia and studied public relations at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Matt Ramos