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Illinois State Geo-Action |
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Illinois State Geo-Action |
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Geography Action- Geo-Games |
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Tips for Working with the Media Reaching the
public through the media is the most effective way to let people in
your community know about your upcoming Geo-Games or other
Geography Action! 2007 activities. |
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1. Create a Media List • Create a list of the media in your area, including daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and websites. Include mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and fax numbers. Check with your school’s administrative office or the local chamber of commerce, as they may already have a media list you can use. • Once your list is completed, make sure you have the name and contact information for the reporter who covers local/metro education issues. You can confirm this by calling the news desks for each of the offices. 2. Customize the Geography Action! Template Press Release • See the template GA! press release enclosed in this kit, which you should customize with information about your school and your event. Be sure to include important information, such as: What the event is; where it will take place; the date and time; who’s participating; and your contact information so reporters can reach you for more information. Press Release Template • Check with your school’s administrative office to see if they will help send the release out to the media. If you need additional assistance, please contact Sarah Clark or Ann Barrett in the NG Communications office. (sclark@ngs.org, abarrett@ngs.org) 3. Send Out Your Customized Press Release • A week to ten days before your event, send your customized version of the press release to the reporters on your media list via email, first-class mail, or by fax. • A few days before the event, call the reporters to see if they are interested in covering the event and if they need any other information. Keep the call short and to the point and have all your facts at hand; newsrooms are very busy places. Media may want to talk to some of the students who are participating in the event. During the planning stages, be sure and check with your school’s administrative office to see if you need parental permission for your students to be interviewed or photographed by the media. 4. Working With Media On Event Day • Although there is no guarantee that media will attend, reporters will more likely cover the event with the alert you’ve given them. On event day, at least one volunteer should dedicate his or her time to working with the press. • Set up a check-in table at the event with a sign identifying it as “Media.” Place the media table in a location that is easy to find, and station the Promotions Planner there to greet reporters and answer questions as they come in. Have copies of the customized press release and the event’s program available to pass on to the reporters. • Television reporters coming with film crews will need electrical outlets for their equipment, so have these available for them in the locations where events are happening. Press will need to have the best view of student displays, games, and presentations. Make sure to have seats designated as “Reserved for Press” where appropriate, with easily visible signs. 5. Partner With Your Local “Newspapers In Education” Coordinator • GA! has a long-standing partnership with Newspapers in Education, a national program encouraging connections between schools and newspapers. Contact your local newspapers to see if they have an NIE Coordinator and see if they would like to collaborate on the event.
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Please e-mail any other suggestions to:
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