Ways to Woo

the Media
Highlights of This Section:
Overview
Press releases: Writing and pitching them
Press releases: Distributing them
Uncovering media coverage
Getting - and keeping! - the media's attention

Press Releases: Writing and pitching them

The most common method of putting your news in front of the media is a press release or media advisory.

The Spin Project offers an example of a well-written press release here. This article covers the basics of pitching stories to the press, and this article tells you how to pitch your story.

Internet News Bureau offers links to several articles covering press release writing and media tips.


Online vs. offline releases

This article covers the most common mistakes people make when preparing email releases.

This article covers the "dos and don'ts" of email press releases.

This article offers a few more tips for those writing press releases, particularly online releases.


What's newsworthy?

These days, the mere launching of a website is not considered newsworthy. In fact, sending a press release announcing your new website is tantamount to announcing that you are now listed in the phone book. Luckily, the definition of news remains the same whether it is online or offline in nature. If you think of news as "a disruption of the status quo," you'll be well on your way to understanding what is newsworthy.

Here's a list of news "hooks" from the SPIN Project. You can use these ideas to "create" news for your issue or organization.

  • New announcement (bigger, better faster)
  • Trends
  • Localize national story (and vice-versa)
  • Dramatic human interest
  • Controversy
  • Fresh angle on old story
  • Milestone
  • Calendar hook
  • Profiles and personnel
  • Special event
  • Respond and react
  • Celebrity

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