On this page, we would like to offer some resources for groups doing their own media work. What this boils down to is pointing a group in the direction of guides on how to write different pieces (media advisories, press releases, etc) when dealing with the corporate media. As well, we would like to offer a few suggestions and point out some resources dealing with the production of independent media.
Corporate Media Work:
How to write a press release:
-Be sure to check out our “press releases” page for an archive of the releases the Media Office has worked on relating to anti-I-69 actions
-A few resources:
How to Write a Media Advisory
-a media advisory differes from a press release in that it is written with the intention of inviting press to a certain event, not necessarily telling a specific news story
-a few resources:
Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed Pieces
-generally speaking, larger newspapers have online forms to fill out for letter to the editors. pay attention to word count limits, as they will cut and edit if you don’t (or even if you do)
-example from Bloomington on where to find LtE information
-Op-Ed pieces are more difficult to get. in regards to the I-69 campaign, most news outlets in southern Indiana are in favor of the highway, and therefore would be weary about printing an oppositional op-ed piece that wasn’t highly edited first. the information on how to submit an op-ed piece varries by news outlet, but many require pitches to be made to their editorial board before drafts are submitted.
