[Imc-newsroom] Writing Workshops/Getting Media Attention This Election Year/Toot Your Horn

Wed Feb 8 12:41:58 CST 2006

COMMUNITY MEDIA WORKSHOP'S eNOTES - February 8, 2006
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Up Next at the Workshop . . .

>> NEWSLETTERS: READERS, WRITING AND GRAND DESIGN - February 15 <<
Veteran newsletter editor Richard Muhammed leads this crash course geared
toward fine tuning your organization's newsletter through effective design
and collaboration with co-workers that includes tips for non-designers and
tricks for whipping the non-writers on your staff into shape as well. 

>> WRITING TO MAKE THE NEWS - February 28 <<
News releases, advisories, and pitch letters must carry a fresh, unique
idea and phrasing that immediately convince journalists a story and
organization is newsworthy. In this two-session workshop, participants will
find, craft and cultivate bright media moments and create story lines and
phrasing that
win media coverage with the help of expert Dyana Flanigan.

Details for these and other workshops are at
http://www.newstips.org/register. 

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Q & A . . .

>> HOW CAN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS GET MEDIA ATTENTION DURING THIS ELECTION
YEAR? <<

Given that news about various political campaigns will consume much of the
media's ink and air time this year, eNotes asked Kevin Lampe of Kurth
Lampe, a public relations and political consulting firm based in Chicago,
to offer his advice on how nonprofit organizations can gain media attention
for the important community issues they are addressing this year.  He
suggests:

Nonprofits can use this election season to deliver their message through
political campaigns.

As in good media relations it is all about relationships. Find and work
with candidates with similar values and issues to the organization. To
learn more, follow the news stories about candidates and research their
positions on their websites as well as attending speeches and events. You
will discover that your organization's message will align with a candidate.

Now think how you can help that candidate...research assistance, policy
papers, volunteers for events, locations for press conferences or public
events.

Next, ask for a meeting with that candidate and/or their staff. Explain how
you can help and that you are ready, willing and able.

For example: A fair housing group learns that a candidate has an interest
in affordable housing. The nonprofit offers to write a position paper on
the issue, and provide a briefing so the candidate can learn more, and then
offers the candidate access to affordable housing project site for a
location for a press conference about housing issues.

Thus everyone wins, the nonprofit gains publicity through the candidate and
the candidate learns more about what the community needs.

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Meet Journalists . . .

>> NPR'S CHERYL CORLEY ON COVERING HURRICANE KATRINA - February 28 <<

Hurricane Katrina's story is about practically everything: changing weather
patterns, government's proper role in disaster relief, loss of cultural
heritage, racism, charity, accountability, corruption. Studs Terkel Award
winner Cheryl Corley of National Public Radio has been covering it all. On
Mardi Gras, she'll reflect on the challenges of reporting this mega-story
and share the insights she gained in a talk titled "The Party's Over, The
Struggle Continues: Covering Hurricane Katrina" sponsored by the
Association for Women Journalists-Chicago.  
When: 5:45 p.m., February 28.  Where: Columbia College, 33 E. Congress
Pkway, Chicago, Rm C-219.  Cost: $10 for non-members.  RSVP: Chicago Public
Radio contributor Kelly Kleiman at KellyNFP at uron.cc.  Learn more about
Cheryl and this event at the "events" page at http://www.awjchicago.org/.

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Toot Your Own Horn . . .

>> PCC'S GOLDEN TRUMPET AWARDS - Deadline Feb. 21 <<

Did you create and execute a particularly strong public relations project
this past year? The Publicity Club of Chicago invites you to submit an
entry to the Golden Trumpet Awards honoring the distinguished individual
achievement communications professionals in the Midwest. Awards
presentation will be in the spring.  Deadline: February 13, 2006. Details:
http://www.publicity.org/trumpet2006.htm. 

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At www.newstips.org . . .

>> ORDER A MEDIA GUIDE <<
http://www.newstips.org/cart 
The Workshop's 2006 media guide, "Getting On The Air & Into Print" provides
information for more than 3,500 journalists and 700 outlets, as well as
advice on developing strong relationships with journalists, media plan
worksheets and checklists, and a list of freelance journalists,
photojournalists and editors.  Links to FREE SAMPLES are available on this
page.

>> CREATE A PRESS RELEASE << 
http://www.newstips.org/forms/create_a_release.php  

Try our automated press release creator.  It guides you through the what,
where, when and other the elements needed to create a complete press
release.

>> LEARN ADVANCED PRESS RELEASE-OLOGY <<
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=PR+Tips+Sub&main_id=14
David M. Freedman, a Chicago-based freelance writer, editor, and media
relations consultant offers advice on how to create press releases that get
results and win respect of journalists.

>> NEWSTIPS <<
Summit on Food Security
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Newstips&main_id=577 

Turning a Corner' on Prostitution
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Newstips&main_id=578 

Day Laborers Push New Law
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Newstips&main_id=575 

Katrina Evacuees to Meet
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Newstips&main_id=579 

Vet-Net Targets Neediest Veterans
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Newstips&main_id=569 

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Community Media Workshop is a nonprofit organization of journalists,
educators and media relations experts helping other nonprofits doing vital
work in their community connect with the media and visa versa. We provide
workshops, an annual conference, a media guide, a journalists' tipsheet,
briefing papers, sources, and sponsor the Studs Terkel Awards...that will
be April 5, 2006, by the way.

Community Media Workshop 
at Columbia College 
mail: 600 S. Michigan 
Chicago, IL 60605 
312-344-6400 
http://www.newstips.org

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