Local Education Foundation Outreach

Getting your message in the newspaper

  1. Be sure to call the paper to tell them a press release is coming. Personally talk with the reporter or editor. If possible, take it to the paper. If not, fax or mail.
  2. Always invite the publisher, the editor, and/or the reporter to the event. Have a board member assigned to greet and sit with the reporter. Know in advance which people you want in photos.
  3. Press release after the event: If there was no reporter at the event, be sure to get a press release the very next day to the paper. Always emphasize the success of the event - number of people in attendance, funds raised, awards given. Use quotes for the keynote speech. Include a photo, preferably a sharp black-and-white picture.
  4. Have a fact sheet available at the event to hand to the reporter. The more information you can feed the reporter, the greater the likelihood the story will say what you want.
  5. Don't neglect papers in surrounding towns. Be sure to include all daily and weekly papers in your area.
  6. Try to have several articles in the paper leading up to the event.
  7. Recognize donors, recognize donors, recognize donors.