1. Traditional Media Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the News Kelley Freeman Communications Associate Secular Student Alliance @ramenneedles

2. Why do traditional media? To get eyes on your group, duh. Get your group in searches Political legitimacy!

3. How do you get media attention? Be newsworthy. Target the correct outlets. Have a compelling message. PREPARE. Deliver it properly!

4. So, what’s newsworthy? Host creative events. Partner with other organizations. Offer counter-intuitive points of view. Be first.

5. What outlets? Right region. Right audience. Right beat. Use your relationships! Campus > Local > Blogs? > National

6. Compelling message, what? You have a story, but you have to…

7. PREPARE Come up with talking points, quotes. Do mock interviews. Stay on message. Consider objections. Don’t get distracted.

8. Deliver what now? Follow guidelines for submission! Be timely. Be polite. Follow up!

9. Okay, yeah, but how get media? Letters to the Editor Press Releases! Media Advisory Statements Right time, right place

10. We just sent a letter… Feel strongly about an issue. Correcting a misconception Want people to take specific action. Influence public opinion/policy. Honoring an anniversary. www.secularstudents.org/LettertotheEditor

11. Wait, what kind of letter? Opinionated! Timely. Speak on behalf of your group. Reflect your community. End with an invitation.

12. Stop the presses! Pre-written, pre-packaged, ready to go article! Announces breaking news. Objective, with opinions as quotes. Sent early in the week, early in the day. Plain text, proper format www.secularstudents.org/resources/pressrelease

13. Format! WE HAVE SO MANY SAMPLE PRESS RELEASES FOR YOU

14. Media Advisory One page sheet. Alerts reporters to an upcoming event. Make it easy for reporters to quickly figure out the details. Essentially an invitation.

15. Statements Written in first person. People already know the story – you’re giving your commentary. Make every sentence count. Include contact information.

16. Regardless, follow up! Don’t ask if they got it. “Did you have any questions?” Opportunity to pitch your story to real live human! Take their advice.

17. Right time, right place. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

18. www.secularstudents.org/mediarelations Kelley Freeman Communications Associate Secular Student Alliance @ramenneedles