Introduction:
An event from a non-profit can be reported as a
PR disaster (and therefore frighten off potential donors) or a success (through
the proper use of media). The news can help a non-profit mobilize resources and
garner more support.
Interns who come to eHomemakers to learn activity
coordination must try to learn how to write basic press releases.
What do the newspapers and other periodicals
want? What do the radios and the televisions want? What do the journalists
want? What are they looking for? How do we reach out to editors, subeditors and
journalists? How do we get our events published in the papers or online news?
What is news?:
News is anything printable or publishable
online.
News is an account of an event, or a fact or an
opinion that interests people.
A presentation of a report on current events in
a newspaper/other periodical or on radio and television.
Anything that enough people wants to read is
news, provided it does not violate the canons of good taste and the laws of
libel.
Anything that is timely that interest a number
of readers, and the best news is that which has the greatest interest for the
greatest number of people.
News is accurate and timely intelligence of
happenings, discoveries, opinions, and matters of any sort that affect or
interest the readers.
News is everything that happens, the
inspiration of happenings, and the result of such happenings.
News comprises all current activities of
general human interest, and the best news is that which interests the most
reads.
Difficult to define:
I know it when I see it or hear it or hear about it.
I know it when I see it or hear it or hear about it.
News is “a man bites a dog”.
News is something you have not heard before.
News is what editors and reporters say it is.
News is different things to different people.
THEREFORE news is when something is/has….
Timely
Proximity
Conflict
Eminence & Prominence
Consequence & Impact
Human interest --- novelty
Creativity
Strategies to reach out to media
Timing
Location
Attractions (the draw)
VVIP
Information kit
PR
For More Information:
A complete guide to effective press release
How to write the perfect press release.
Press release template.
