 UKPAC Press and Publicity

PRESS AND PUBLICITY  UKPAC

Identify your Audience For whom are you writing? What do you want to achieve from this article or news story? Why should the reader, listener or viewer want to know about your news?  UKPAC

Build a Rapport with Local Journalists ● Which are the best publications, radio/TV slots for your stories? ● Discover who are your local newspaper reporters and radio/TV presenters. ● Listen to or read news items they have presented. ● “I heard your news item/read your report” builds a good relationship. ● Why not arrange a meeting with local journalists.  UKPAC

Local Newspapers ●Read articles reporters have written (and had published) ●Try submitting a regular item each week/month for the Community News pages.  UKPAC

Local Radio/TV Make contact with the presenter of the appropriate slot Establish yourself as the local ‘spokesperson’ When doing interviews, don’t read from a script Think about your target audience – imagine you’re speaking to just one person. Stick to one or two points Be proactive - use radio phone-ins (retired members can help here)  UKPAC

Supply Timely, Accurate Articles ●No one is interested in old news. ●Consider submitting two stories for each event; one to say it’s about to happen and then a follow up when it has taken place. ●Timing is crucial. ●Articles must be honest and accurate.  UKPAC

Kipling’s Six Honest Serving Men: "I kept six honest serving men, They taught me all I knew, Their names are: Why and What and When and How and Where and Who."  UKPAC

The Inverted Pyramid The nub and point of the story goes in the first couple of paragraphs. 2 If subsequent paragraphs were cut, would the most important part of the story still be conveyed? 3 The least important part of the story goes at the end. Editors cut from the bottom up.  UKPAC

Avoid the Scattergun Approach Target the media. Improve your news release writing skills rather than flood the market with releases on the basis of: “One’s sure to get published”. Do your homework and submit relevant stories to appropriate publications and programmes.  UKPAC

Photographs Submit photographs whenever possible. Ascertain whether publication accepts attachments. Supply interesting pictures – steer clear of the ‘grip and grin’ variety. Action shots are best. Those including children stand more chance of being printed.... BUT obtain parental written permission first!!!  UKPAC

Write like a Reporter Don’t exaggerate or inflate stories – eventually your credibility will be damaged. Write in short sentences – keep it punchy. Write in short paragraphs of two or three sentences. Use double-line spacing. Keep it all to one side of A4 paper.  UKPAC

Contact Information ●Ensure contact information is full and accurate. ●Give as many avenues to contact you as you can. ●Supply information on our organisation – don’t assume they know who we are. Don’t supply a contact telephone number and then go out for the day! And finally - don’t forget to give websites for more information.  UKPAC