Publicity Hints
HINTS FOR EFFECTIVE PRESS RELEASES
Newspapers, magazines, radio, and television are the best means to
disseminate your views and news to the community in a relevant and timely
manner. In working with the media, remember that every editor, reporter, or
producer is a professional whose primary task is to present important
information to the public. If a member of your group has personal contact with
the media, use it!
- Send short accounts of "hard news" to local newspapers, television,
and radio stations.
- Send
notices of Pack meetings, special events, and Courts of Honor and other events
to newspapers and radio stations for listing in their community calendars.
- Send detailed descriptions of special events and programs to the lifestyle,
educational, or cultural reporters at newspaper, radio, and television stations
and to the editors of local or regional magazines.
- After sending a press release, be sure to follow up with a well-timed phone
call. Call reporters, editors, and broadcasters within one week to supply them
with any additional information needed.
- Begin the process by sumitting photos, articles, programming to the NAPS editor for possible inclusion in the national NAPS newsletter and website- amandabtarbell@yahoo.com.
Press
release example
GUIDELINES FOR PRESS RELEASES
- Type the release, double-spaced, with one-inch margins on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
- In the upper left-hand corner, type "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" and
include a note about the region it should interest.
- In the top right-hand corner, list the name, title, address, and telephone
number(s) of a contact person. List a second contact for District or Council
events.
- Center the headline above the body of the release, keep the headline short
and concise.
- Begin the main body of the release with a dateline (city of origin and date)
in all capital letters.
- Include who, what, when, where, why, and how in the first paragraph. Use
short paragraphs. Remember: NAMES MAKE NEWS!
- Try to limit the release to one page if possible. If not, type
"MORE" at the bottom of the page. On following pages in the upper
left-hand corner, type a short derivative of the main title in all capital
letters.
- To end the release type either "###" or "-30-".
- Attach a personal note to the release that grabs the reader's attention.
|