Talk to your community – use the media.

Your objective is to raise public awareness of our school/church—its members, its mission, and its message; work to get school/church activities and events noted in the media; and help to get the school/church’s views included in the news adequately and accurately.  
 
To do this effectively: Report activities to local radio, television, and newspapers by submitting news releases and public service announcements, arranging for interviews, writing letters to the editor on matters of concern to the church, writing or assigning feature stories or columns, arranging for photo coverage of congregational activities or events, and serving as a source of information for public media representatives. Look for opportunities, story ideas, and current issues that concern your school, church and community. Seek to become personally acquainted with newspaper editors, broadcast assignment editors, religion reporters, and community relations personnel. Develop initial contacts, nurture contacts with phone calls, and follow up contacts with hand-written note cards.  
 
Try this: Develop and maintain a local media contact list; seek coverage of a health fair or a Pathfinder event that benefits kids or the community; send your contacts Christmas cards from your church or school.

Resources:

News Submission Tips Presentation

How to write a press release

Press Contacts

Crisis Communication Information 

Submitting news items to Georgia-Cumberland Conference

Georgia-Cumberland Conference Publication Deadlines

How to take good digital photos

Web Content Management

 

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