MEET THE PRESS

• How to establish a media contact network
• Five types of story the media loves
• Effective communications with the media
• Emphasize your event's visual appeal
• Tips on public service announcements
• Media interview how-to's

EMPHASIZE YOUR EVENT'S VISUAL APPEAL.

Ever organized an event that you were sure would get great media coverage, only to find out that the media just wasn't interested? For newspapers and their online web presences, a head-turning photo opportunity can sometimes make the difference in whether or not your event will end up on the front page or buried in the publication's back pages. Sell the photo opportunity and you're halfway there to getting a story published or broadcasted.

1. Play it up. Be sure to let the media know about those attention-grabbing photos, preferably where students have opportunities for hands-on, project-based learning. Note: Don't expect a photographer from the media to show up for things like a guest speaker who is going to talk to a class about a career field. Unless the person is planning a demonstration, many newspapers won't find it photoworthy.
2. Look for visually appealing student field trips or job shadowing at area companies.
3. Make it fun. If you're planning to hold an event to inform parents and the public about your network's efforts, find some visually appealing ways to relay your message.
4. Tap those talents. If you have someone in your network who dabbles in graphic design or marketing, talk to them about putting together graphics and visuals to demonstrate your Career Academy efforts. Be sure to include this graphic information or visuals when you send news releases to the media.
5. Provide media with your network's logo. Let newspapers and online and broadcast outlets know they can use your logo to enhance their coverage. Also provide copies of these logos with news releases you submit to them.
6. Take your own photos. Most large newspapers prefer to use their own photographers, but some smaller newspapers welcome submitted photos because many can't afford to staff their own photographers. Also, just because a media outlet can't send a reporter to cover your event, don't assume they won't be interested in giving your event a visual presence in their publication. Photos are sometimes published as "stand-alone" photos. While these photos won't be accompanied by a story, they should at least include a caption about your event. Write a sentence or two detailing who's in the photo, what they're doing, when the event happened and why.

Downloads/Links:
Event Checklist

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