Sure, there are a few reporters out there who seem to actually enjoy writing about every drop in national median home prices and who ignore all the millions of home owners who pay their mortgages on time. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but keep in mind that reporting the negative is part of the reporter’s job. And unfortunately, many readers relish bad news. (Admit it, haven’t you ever sneaked a peak at those tabloid headlines about stars with drug problems near the checkout line.)

But the vast majority journalists aren’t out to make real estate look bad; they’re just trying to do their job and get the most accurate information they can for their readers. As the group attending the media training learned, the way to ensure that the positive information about real estate reaches the public is to provide it, complete with facts and examples to back up your statements. Complaining about the media gets you nothing.