Behind the Placement / Media Relations Case Story
Thea LaFond-Gadson on FOX 5 DC: the pitch behind the interview.
On November 15, 2024, FOX 5 DC featured Dominica's first Olympic gold medalist, Thea LaFond-Gadson, ahead of her Golden Leap Award ceremony. Here's how a timely story and a trusted newsroom relationship came together, and what that process illustrates about thoughtful media strategy.
Watch the FOX 5 DC segment
FOX 5 DC · Good Day DCWatch the original FOX 5 DC segmentVerified media placement · November 15, 2024
Olympic Gold Medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson on FOX 5 DC
Organization: Rebuild Dominica, Inc.
Ahead of Rebuild Dominica's Golden Leap Award ceremony, LaDàna Young used an established FOX 5 DC producer relationship to pitch Thea's historic Olympic win, coordinate her on-air booking, and support interview preparation. FOX 5 aired the feature on Good Day DC.
Watch coverage on FOX 5 DCFOX 5 DC video and preview image credited to FOX 5 DC. Opens at the original source.
Watch the original segment, “Honoring Thea LaFond-Gadson's historic Olympic achievement,” directly on FOX 5 DC . The broadcaster produced and owns the coverage.
The Story That Made News
Dominica's first Olympic gold medal deserved a wider conversation.
Thea LaFond-Gadson made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning Dominica's first Olympic gold medal in the women's triple jump. Her achievement carried meaning for the island, the Caribbean diaspora, and the University of Maryland community, where she had been a student-athlete.
Rebuild Dominica, Inc., in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Caribbean Students Association, was preparing its Golden Leap Award ceremony for November 19, 2024. The upcoming event gave journalists a timely reason to revisit the milestone and hear directly from the athlete.
LaDàna Young, President of Rebuild Dominica, Inc. and Founder and Principal Consultant of Above Prestige Public Relations, brought the story to an established FOX 5 DC producer contact. The editorial team chose to pursue the segment and confirmed the broadcast booking.
Behind the Booking
From a pitch to a confirmed broadcast.
November 1, 2024
The story was pitched
LaDàna Young contacted an established FOX 5 DC newsroom relationship with a timely story: Dominica's first Olympic gold medalist, a University of Maryland alumna, would be honored at an upcoming community ceremony.
November 11–13, 2024
The opening became a confirmed booking
FOX 5's team offered possible interview times. LaDàna coordinated the athlete's availability and the editorial team's requirements, and the station confirmed a November 15 appearance.
November 15, 2024
The interview aired on FOX 5 DC
Thea appeared on the station's morning program to discuss her historic achievement and the forthcoming Golden Leap Award celebration at the University of Maryland.
November 19, 2024
The community celebration followed
Rebuild Dominica, Inc. and the University of Maryland's Caribbean Students Association honored Thea at the Golden Leap Award ceremony.
A Clear Distinction
Earned media is not a product for sale.
This FOX 5 appearance was coordinated in connection with LaDàna's nonprofit leadership at Rebuild Dominica. It was not an ongoing publicist engagement with Thea LaFond-Gadson, and Above Prestige PR does not claim to represent her.
Journalists decide what they cover. Above Prestige PR does not sell guaranteed television appearances or charge a fee per broadcast placement. What clients invest in is the work that prepares them to pursue opportunities responsibly.
The Services Clients Pay For
- Strategic consultation and visibility planning
- Story positioning and pitch development
- Media readiness and interview preparation
- Press materials, messaging, and communications support
- Outreach strategy, coordination, and follow-through
Paid consulting supports professional preparation and execution, never a promise that a newsroom will say yes.
Turn Interest Into Opportunity
Have a story worth telling? Prepare to tell it well.
Whether you're an athlete, founder, nonprofit leader, artist, author, or public-facing professional, the first step is not buying coverage. It's understanding your story, your audience, what makes it timely, and what you need to have ready before anyone calls.
