Tips to get media to cover your IDPWD 2020 event
Tips for writing a media release
Write a short media release that summarises your event or activity, and explains International Day of People With Disabilities. Be sure to mention this years key message _____________.
Tips for writing a media release:
DO send out to media about a week prior to the event, so they can have enough time to organise a photographer or journalist to attend your event.
DO split it into clear, concise and short paragraphs, each about two sentences in length. For reference, think of how a newspaper article reads.
DO include ‘who, what, when. Where and why’ in the first paragraph to give all the information needed to catch the reader’s attention right away.
DO outline what will make your event special or newsworthy. Is it something you’d typically see in your local newspaper or TV news bulletin? If it looks like you simply want your business in the news, it will not be enough. Why should their viewers/ readers hear about your events? What is the community interest?
DO include an image of your special guest, location etc. If it is interesting and might help convince them- keep in mind most newspaper articles will feature an image, and TV news will need lots of interesting footage for their viewers.
DO contact local media. If you are fundraising for a local charity, have local guests or local speakers, and then local media will be more likely to cover your event to show their audience your event, which is making a difference in their local community.
DO try and send your media release to the right journalist. A news journalist, or a journalist that covers community events is best. You can find individual contact details on most news media websites.
At the event
Assign someone at the event to liaise with journalists or photographers who might attend. They can answer any questions they might have, advise of any photo opportunities and assist with interviews if required.
Assign someone at the event to take high-resolution images of the guests, speaker and colourful set up you have created. Filming or recording guest speakers and getting a few quotes from attendees is also beneficial. Ensure you get the full names and titles of anyone who provides you with a quote.
After the event
If any print journalists responded to your initial media release but did not attend on the day, send them a follow up email politely mentioning that due to their earlier interest you thought they might like to hear that the event was a success. Include a few lines that once again outline the ‘who, what, when, where and why’ of your event, to help refresh them on why they should cover the activity. Attach a couple of strong high- resolution images (1MB – 2MB), and be sure to clearly outline captions that include the names of everyone in each photo. Also include the quotes that were gathered at the event, typed out. Be sure to include your phone number in case they need to call you for more information or resources.
The video footage and photographs you took on the day can also be used on social media platforms to share your event and help spread awareness about International Day of People With Disabilities 2020. Make sure to include the hash tags #idpwd #inclusionisforeverybody and #idpwd2020 to share with a huge international audience on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Good luck!