Tips for Getting the Media to Cover Your Event:

1. Prepare a media alert using the template provided.
2. When writing the media alert, make sure you answer "who, what, when, where and why" fully.
3. When you describe the why part of the media alert, give a bit of detail about why you are holding your event and why it is relevant for the public to know about it.
4. Research all local media outlets in your area, including newspapers, news stations, radio stations, magazines, and websites.
5. Send your media alert to the assignment desks one week prior to your event. If you send it any earlier they may not consider it or will put it aside and possibly forget about it. Please know that most outlets decide the day before or day of to send a reporter to an event. Send your media alert again a few days before the event and begin following up. If you are told that no decision has been made, do not be shy and keep calling all the way up to a few hours before your event!

1. Prepare a press release using the template provided.
2. Localize: First think about what makes your story an important story for your community. Make it personal by telling a story about yourself, a loved one or someone in your community affected by triple negative breast cancer.
3. If applicable, partner with a local oncologist or hospital that you are affiliated with to tie the story together. If needed, recruit a patient or doctor who will give a quote for your release and participate in interviews if asked.
4. Pinpoint the right media outlet who would be interested in writing a story about your cause. If you are unsure begin to read, watch, and listen to current editions to find out who is writing similar stories to yours and contact them specifically.
5. Be prepared: Before you send your press release and/or make a media call, get organized and know your message. Make the best use of your opportunity to reach a large number of people by having a clear, simple, accessible, easily digestible message and be "sound-bite" ready.
6. Have supporting content: Be prepared to provide a press release if you have not sent it in advance (we have a press release template to assist you), background information, photos, links, etc. Also, where appropriate, offer to write copy for a reporter. Anything to make their job easier!
7. Follow-up: Don't forget to reach out to your contact again to ensure they have all the information they need and confirm that the article will be run.
8. When you place a story, thank the reporter for their time and don't forget to invite them to your event so they can write a follow-up story!

1. Prepare a photo caption release using the template provided.
2. Choose 2-5 of your best photos directly after the event.
3. Make sure to draft a few strong sentences with key details about the event to include in the photo caption.
4. Underneath the photo, write exactly who appears in the photo left to right, including name, title, and affiliation with the event. Make sure everything is spelled correctly as this is exactly how it will be printed.
5. Don't forget to include a photo credit. The person who took the photo/s should be credited. If they are a professional photographer, list their company too, if applicable.
6. Forward the photos and captions within 2 days of your event to generate coverage.

Generating publicity for your event involves reaching and engaging the right people. Below are some tips to help you determine which contacts can best assist you, depending on the media outlet you are interested in engaging.

At television stations:

• News directors and anchors - invite them to your event as guests
• Assignment editors - if you don't have a personal contact, an assignment editor should be your first choice. Ask for a health or community desk editor
• Morning and/or noon producers - these are the people who book guests and determine if the station will cover your story or interview during the daytime newscasts
• Public service announcement (PSA) directors - these people are usually the community relations directors as well; they typically develop the schedule for airing PSAs
• Online content editors - contact these people to have your information posted on the station's website

• News directors and assignment editors - these are the people who decide what the day's content will entail and schedule interviews:

• Section editors - editors for the metro, health, lifestyle sections
• Community/non-profit editors/reporters
• Editorial editors/writers (contact these editors when you have a specific issue to address)
• Calendar editors/reporters (ask them to list the date of your event)
• Society columnists (these editors are great if you have VIP guests or leaders of your community in attendance)
• Online content editors

• Editors - most weekly newspapers are small publications with very small staffs; sending information to the main editor should be sufficient.

• Don't forget the little guys! Church bulletins, village papers, and local newsletters can be your best resource. Pick one up and contact the publisher/editor.

• Open a Facebook page: Consider launching your event on Facebook and using Facebook as the primary platform to keep your attendees/participants/donors updated on how everything is progressing.
• Submit video: Consider keeping a video journal of your experience and sharing it on your own YouTube channel or submitting it to TNBCFoundation.org so we can post it to our YouTube channel.

• Contact your local or state legislator and ask them to consider bestowing a proclamation for your event.
• Draft a letter about your event and the importance of your cause and ask your local leader to sign it so that it can be printed in your event journal or handed out individually.