Guide To Contacting The Media
GUIDE TO CONTACTING THE MEDIA
- Writing a Letter to the Editor
- Keep your message short, 200 words or less. Due to the limited space, it’s wise to focus only on one issue or respond to only one article.
- Make sure your message is topical. Open with specific references to recent news article, recent as in no more than a few days old.
- Explain how the issue your addressing affects you or what kind of impact it has locally, nationally, or internationally. Using local statistics captures readers’ attention.
- If possible, provide facts, quotes, and statistics, briefly.
- While writing to major local and national papers is ambitious and has the ability to reach many, they are harder to get published in. There are many local, regional and/or on-line publications to consider
- Publish an Op-Ed and/or Blog piece
- Opinion-Editorial and/or Blog pieces are much like writing a letter to the editor yet are substantially longer.
- Check the publications’ submission requirements. Many media outlets require email submission and have length and format restrictions.
- If possible, begin with a short story or anecdote to illustrate the impact of your issue.
- You may want to consider co-signer and/or co-authors on your Op-Ed or Blog.
- Make sure you follow up on your submission. Even if you are not successful in getting published, speaking to staff can open the door for future articles.
- Calling Radio Talk Shows
- Speak clearly and simply
- Stay calm, cool, and collected even if the host argues with you don’t let them get a rise out of you