Write a Media Release

You may want to tell your local community about the school's involvement in the project. One of the best ways to do this is via your local media (newspaper, radio station or other outlet).

A media release will announce your evening and pass on information that you want reported to local media. A media release:

saves time for you and the reporter
helps reporters get their facts right
lets you tell many media at the same time.

Identify the media you think will be interested in your story. Find out when their editorial deadline is. A well written release (with the right angles and structure) will often get run word-for-word. Find out if someone in your school community can write media releases. If so, ask them to do it. Contacting your local MP, or similar, for help to get the event in local press is also a good idea. Your local member should have contacts within the local media to assist you.

Newspapers will be more interested in your story if there are good photo opportunities. Wherever possible, list opportunities for fun, colourful or unusual photos at the bottom of your release. If a newspaper is interested in the story but can't make it to your event, organise your own photographer, then send them the photos.

You might want to use the template provided to put out a media release to local media.  This release provides general information in the correct format for a news release - feel free to vary the content to reflect the specific details of your Alcohol Information Night. Remember, the most important issue about writing a news release is that it's news. Your 'News' is something that will affect a community and is therefore in the public's interest.

When seeking media and publicity for your ‘Alcohol Information Night’ be aware that there are many myths about alcohol use. You need to be wary that your concern about student safety is not misinterpreted by the media and discussed as being prompted by a perceived problem of alcohol misuse in your community.

After your release is written:

• address it to the right person (phone the media concerned or check out Margaret Gee's Media Guide in your local library)
• fax or mail it at least three days before the event if you want a reporter to attend
• follow up with a friendly phone call to make sure the reporter has received the media release and to see whether they are interested.

Media Release Template

• Media release template (doc 28kb)