1. Media Training & Telling Your Story
Total presentation time – 30 minutes
Slide Presentation – 15 minutes
Activity – 15 minutes

2. The Opportunity
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
For our movement to speak in one voice Show the world through your stories the meaning of inclusion and respect

3. Your Role
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Help encourage more people to get involved with Special Olympics and Special Olympics health programming
Share your story of how Special Olympics health programming has changed your life or other athletes’ lives
Find opportunities to tell your story to your fans, your community and members of the media

4. Where we are today
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
6 million athletes and Unified partners in countries
We are the largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities
In 2018, we celebrated our 50th anniversary
Say
- First you need to talk about who Special Olympics is.

5. Where we are today Global Challenge
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Global Challenge
Special Olympics International Solution
We create unprecedented opportunities for the expression of athleticism & spirit.
Exclusion & unrecognized potential
Poorer health & fitness
Say
- Then you need to talk about what Special Olympics does.
We operate the world’s largest health program for people with intellectual disability.
Education
marginalization
We champion educational opportunities for people with ID & foster greater understanding in all.

6. Who are the Media? Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Television – National, local and cable news
Radio – National and local
Newspapers – National, local, international
Magazines – National and local
Wire services – Share stories with many news outlets
Internet – Blogs, social media (Facebook, Twitter), comment posts, video posts

7. How does the media help Special Olympics?
Builds understanding for who we are and what we do
Communicates why we are urgent
Changes opinions of what our athletes can achieve
Helps raise money
Brings people into the Special Olympics movement
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content

8. The media’s job is harder now than ever before
Reporters are covering more than one subject
Not only responsible for posting stories, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
The competition is tough for content
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Facilitator note:
Make sure this is not an expectation for them getting coverage.

9. How we consume media Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content

10. How people get their news
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content

11. Types of news stories
Breaking news – ‘Big news stories covered everywhere’
Feature story – Profile (ex: Sports Illustrated article)
Editorial or Blog
Sports Story – Need to have stats, times and scores
Being in the right place at the right time – Story that you help tell based on the current news
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content

12. Interview format Live/taped (TV or radio) Telephone interview
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Live/taped (TV or radio)
Telephone interview
In-studio or talk show format
On-locations “stand up”
“Remote” interview (Interviewer and subject at different locations)
Live chat on Internet (Twitter, Facebook, Skype)

14. Creating Your Sound Bites
About You – Name, age, sports, accomplishments, health goals or health fact
Involvement with Special Olympics
About the event or reason you are being interviewed
Call to action – what do we want people to do? (ex: donate funds, volunteer on a team or in healthy athletes, advocate for more inclusive health services, attend competitions, tune in and watch)
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Say:
You are speaking on behalf of the Movement and sharing your story.
You need to be able to say these four things quickly and clearly!
Think about when you watch on TV. You never hear someone talk for five minutes. You need to say what you need to say in 1 minute.
Facilitator note:
Play this video clip of as an effective Special Olympics sound bite:

15. Examples of Health Calls to Action
If speaking to fellow athletes:
Come to Healthy Athletes so you can improve your health and compete at your best.
If speaking to congressmen or women:
Continue to fund Special Olympics Health programs. You are helping Special Olympics make health inclusive for myself and other athletes.
Facilitator note:
- Ask the group to suggest other Calls to Action.

16. Interview Tips Be yourself! Prepare – make sure you know the facts
Try to wear a Special Olympics logo (on shirt, pin or medal)
Be positive and energetic
You are always on the record – if you are not sure of a fact, don’t say it
Remember that you play an important role in Special Olympics….no pressure!
Reporters are covering more than one beat
Not only responsible for posting story, but tweeting all day, authoring a blog, taking video
We live in a 24-hour news environment
Competition is fierce for content
Facilitator note:
Play this video clip of as an effective Special Olympics Health Messenger interview:

17. How to get in the news
Share photos with your local Program and write up a story about your health experience
If on social media, share your Special Olympics health story with photos
Alert your local Program when you are doing something so they can help you get coverage

18. Activity
Practice creating sound bites and participating in a media interview
Break into teams of two and conduct a mock interview.
One person pretend they are a reporter from a local news station; the other is a Health Messenger being interviewed.
Answer the following questions:
What is your name and what sports do you play?
Why is Special Olympics important to your health?
What do you do to stay healthy?
Then switch and if you asked the questions you now become the person answering the questions.
Total time – 15 minutes
Individual group role playing– 10 minutes
Have one group do a mock interview for the entire group– 1 minutes
Facilitator notes:
Give the groups a few minutes to think about their sound bites.
Encourage the groups to set a 1 minute time limit and each practice trying to keep their comments within that time frame.
Say:
Use your sound bite as a basis for your interview.
Keep your response to 1 minute.
If you have more time left in your minute, you want to keep finding ways to come back to your message.