|
Get Heard: The Media Access Toolkit
Whether you're an activist, an advocate, or simply a concerned citizen, there's no better way to raise your voice than through the megaphone of the mass media. Nonprofit organizations can't merely conduct their field duties and consider the work complete without maximizing the public's attention. But how to break through the info glut? How to capture the ear (and the pen) of journalists? You could do worse than to master the press release, that covert director of news placement. There are, however, myriad facets to meeting the press and maneuvering the media. While you may not be able to hire a team of PR pros, you can seize the means of grassroots media access. From that first cold call to reporters to e-mail as outreach, MediaChannel affiliates offer guides, tips and resources for making some noise in the information age.
|
|
|
|
PR 101
So you think pitching is something you do on a ball field, not the route to getting your story in play? This step-by-step guide for beginners takes you from crafting your media strategy to mastering the art of being an interviewee.
From Cause Communications,
|
|
|
Their Game, Your Terms
Just because they own the press doesn't mean you can't help shape the content. From holding a demo outside the newsroom to getting your video on public access TV, here's how you can inject your perspective — as either precursor or reactor — and shape journalism, both onscreen and in print.
From FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting),
|
|
|
|
Reporters: Care and Feeding
They're really just people, these media personalities and bylines. So, establishing two-way relationships is key. With press release tips, an interview checklist and more, the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society offers this guide to communicating with the press in times of opportunity and crisis.
From Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society,
|
|
|
|
Crash Course
Train with a pro: T.J. Walker's free, online audio training course offers tips on everything from clothes and make-up for TV interviews to dealing with nasty host. Four weeks of lessons, including homework.
From TJWalker.Com,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Know Your Audience
And know your target. "Research, research, research" is the lesson of this overview that suggests the questions you should ask yourself before you make that first call.
From Different Voices,
|
|
|
|
Avoid The Obstacles
"Don't accept marginal status" and "think like a reporter" are some of the pointers Peter Wirth offers as he reviews the typical pitfalls of activists seeking attention from the mainstream media.
From Protest.Net,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Image Control
Video news releases provide many of the images seen in TV journalism. Pharmaceutical companies and big agriculture aren't shy about pushing their agendas through televised images, so why should you be. RTMark walks you through the steps in this RealVideo presentation.
From RTMark, Inc.,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound and Fury
Radio remains one of the most open and underrated forms of broadcast communication. And all it takes is a telephone and a wily approach to crash the gates of talk, says Skipp Porteous, who has been on 500 radio shows.
From Protest.Net,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Show Business
Ideas and causes may be too abstract to attract TV news producers, but everyone loves a good show. Here are eleven steps to mastering the media event.
From Cause Communications,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AS THE MEDIA WATCH THE WORLD, WE WATCH THE
MEDIA.
|
|
|
|