Contacting the Media
Before you contact the media, you have to ask 3 important questions:
1. Who is going to be the primary contact with the media from a campus or team?
2. Which media outlets and who are you going to contact?
Here are sample Media Contact & Record Forms to help you keep track:
Campus Newspaper Contact Form
TV Station Contact Form
Radio Station Contact Form
Other Media Contact Form
The National Communications/Media Relations Team may be able to assist you in preparing your Media Contact list if you ask them early enough. Email Tony.Arnold@uscm.org for more information and coaching help.
3. How and when do I want to get the media involved?
Now you’re ready to use your press release or media alert to contact the media. Here’s a step by step description of how you distribute your release and more importantly how and when to follow up by phone to get the best response.
We’ve even included sample phone conversations in the Techniques document for you to use.
PR professionals say that if you pitch 10-12 story ideas to the media, you average seeing 2-3 picked up. Using the methods and techniques described here, we’ve seen more than 80% of our “pitches” result in positive news coverage over the past 5 years on small and large campuses in locations ranging from small towns to major metropolitan areas.
Never forget though, that we are in a spiritual battle. Pray before you start and at every step of the way.