Subject: How do we get newspapers to write about us?

What are you trying to get covered?

Well, we are a local residents' group campaigning against the increasing use of wooden A frames on pavements advertising  restaurant menus, pub offers etc. They clutter up our streets and make the place look like a tip.

If you are selling it to the paper that way, maybe you just look a bit narrow? Who else is against these pavement furniture signs?

We have had lots of support from parents with prams and push chairs and from the local blind association, because blind people and people in wheelchairs have difficulties negotiating them.

That is a much stronger story line, it broadens the appeal and is much more newsworthy. Why not get a few quotes from local parents, blind people and other disabled people and see if they would be prepared to talk to a reporter? Then you can send the paper a much stronger press release.

Should I talk direct to the paper?

Yes, once you have sent your press release in, phone them up and ask for the person who is considering it, and talk to them.

Suppose that doesn’t work, what else can I do?

You could try a picture – but check the quality the paper wants – perhaps of a row of mothers negotiating an A frame, or a blind person with a cane. But you must remember to get the written permission of the people photoed.

A last resort is to write a letter for the letters page, which often stands more chance of publication.

Jackie, when you say you are 'sending stories' to your local paper, how are you sending them?  If you are emailing press releases, this might not be the best way to engage their interest - especially when you consider the volume of email most people get nowadays.

If you can engage a particular reporter on the phone, you might be able to get a better idea about why the paper isn't running your story at the moment and find out what would make it more interesting to them.  See if you can get someone to talk to you and you might be able to open up a bit more of a dialogue and get them to buy into what you are trying to achieve.

Another way of getting your campaign the support and exposure you need to influence your local council (presumably) might be to create a simple, online campaign, using a platform like Facebook where you can create a group or cause that parents, the local blind association, and anyone else with a stake in making the pavements more accessible, can join, which will clearly illustrate the local support you already have, help you to attract more of it, make your campaign more of a credible story for your local paper, and help to influence the council to do something about the problem.

It may be that you can use an online community that already exists for your area to create interest, conversations and leverage support.  Here are two that I'm aware of: http://www.whereilive.org/ & http://www.harringayonline.com/.  Have you searched for one near you?

Hi Jackie,

Have you registered on AskCHARITY? This is a free service designed to help charities with their work with the media, in particular building up relations with journalists.   Go to www.askcharity.org.uk to sign up and register if you think it will be useful.  They also have a really useful message board there too, which has helped me out loads as around 3,000 people are on it, all of them charity comms staff.

Well, it s great to hear every one's ideas. Well i started a support group for lone parents and their children recently. So i used my personal story of how I became a lone parent and what i was now doing to helo other lone parents in the area. This proved sucessful and I had coverge in all the local nespapers and magazines.

Also one of the things i do, is to listen every money to my local radio station BBC Radio Kent, as I realised during this period they had a lot of phone in discussions. So I would phone on a regular basis to give my opinion on things, which again raised awarenes of what I am trying to do with the group.

I also book a stall at any event the local council is having, which means our project gets free publicity iin the materials they send out. At these events their are always lost of people and media taking pictures and doing interviews.

Another thing, when we ran a seminar, we videod it, and sent to our local on line TV station who are always interested events going on in the area.

Once a quarter we organise events which are well attended and we invite local media as well.

For us it is all about getting known in the local area by being invlovved and networking with other organisations.

I hope this helps

Thanks for sharing your experience genny. Sounds like you have been very successful in getting coverage for your organisation! What is your organisation called?

Thanks for your reply. One of the organisations is called "Lone Parents Can" amd the other "Confident chilldren" which teaches chidlren, Etiquette, manners,  Respect, Money management, self confidence and sefl esteem.

This might be of interest in response to this question:

Top ten media tips for charities from journalists - useful report from nfpSynergy.

Jackie have you come accross newswire at the media trust.  You send in your story and their journalists will write up the most newsworthy ones and send to journos.  Might be worth a go?