Getting Your Name in the News
© Shirley Frazier
1. How do I go about getting my name in the paper?
2. Will they ask how much I make?
3. Is the time worth the effort?
Beyond the sensational front page, the press also prints human interest stories. That's where you come in. The key is to send your informative news release (also known as a press release) to the right editor.
Several months ago while cleaning my office, I found the first news release I sent to my local newspaper. I didn't realize how badly written it was, yet I believed it would be printed just days after addressing it to "the editor."
After mailing three releases that weren't printed, I visited the library for help on writing my news. I found a great article in Inc. Magazine and in a book on getting publicity. Here's some of the advice:
1. Use plain, white paper instead of stationery. Editors receive lots of releases on colored paper, and plain paper will stand out. (NOTE: This advice was written in 1992. Stationery is okay to use today; the paper doesn't matter as much as the content.)
2. The body of the release must be double spaced, and each paragraph should be indented.
3. Address your envelope to a specific editor. A generic title such as "The Editor" lands your mail in the garbage.
4. Put the "who, what, why, when, where and how" in the first paragraph, if possible. Editors scan their mail quickly because they receive hundreds of releases each day. The important points should appear first to keep their interest.
5. What's interesting about your news? The release must be written in an informative, not advertising, style. If your news is about opening a store or having a sale, it will be tossed in the trash.
6. Most editors prefer not to be called and asked, "Did you get my mail?" "Will you print it?" "What date will it appear?" Very few editors will answer your questions, and most are too busy to take such calls. You'll know if it's printed, because it's your job to read the paper daily to see if and when it appears.
7. Type "-30-" or "###" at the end of your release to signal its end.
