[stylist] Press release template w discriptions & question for Judith

Donna Hill penatwork at epix.net
Fri Feb 4 20:00:32 UTC 2011 

Note to list: I'm re sending this under a different subject line, 
because I messed up earlier. Sorry for that. Donna

Hi Pete,
I am attaching a .doc of the format I use for the NFB of PA, with some 
explanations in brackets. I will also copy it below my name, but don't 
know how that will affect the format. Obviously, there are professional 
differences of opinion about what works and what is acceptible, but this 
is the tried and true method accepted for decades. There are free 
resources online, such as the 89 part series on writing affective press 
releases   from Joan Stewart the Publicity Hound, for instance, which 
offer a lot of insight. As writers, and I know you are a musician as 
well, we all have the job of promoting our work nowadays, since even the 
major publishers expect authors to take an active role in their book's 
promotion.

I hope Judith will weigh in on this, since she has experience as a 
successful publicist. One thing I forget is regarding the use of three 
number signs below the body of the press release. I thought they were 
supposed to be centered, but noticed that I'm finding them aligned left, 
but I don't know if that's because I received them via e-mail, which 
often changes formatting.
HTH,
Donna

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [12 pt. Times New Roman, single-spaced, all caps, 
aligned left]

CONTACT: [all caps, aligned left ...]

Jim Antonacci, President [end all caps, rest of format is the same]

National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania

42 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, 19102

(215) 988-0888

president at nfbp.org <mailto:president at nfbp.org>

Donna Hill, media relations

(570) 833-2708

dwhill at epix.net <mailto:dwhill at epix.net>

[Subject line and subtitle: bold and centered, can be 14 pt]

[Body of press release: 250 to 500 words, 12 pt, aligned left with 2 
line breaks between paragraphs. First paragraph should have all 
pertinent info for events: date, time, location, sponsored by, and short 
purpose. Try to limit to 50-60 words max. Try writing the entire body of 
the press release like a little article, complete with a quote or two 
from involved parties; make it something that a busy journalist could 
either publish as-is or build on.]

### [ the use of 3 number signs aligned left or sometimes centered below 
the body of the press release is a standard indication that the release 
itself is over. The paragraphs below give the journalist standard 
information about the organization. This one is used at the end of all 
NFB press releases. For other organizations or individuals, this is a 
good resource for general info about yourself that doesn't need to 
clutter up your press release. Remember, the journalist is busy. You 
have very little time to get his/her attention, so make subject lines 
and first paragraphs pertinent and attention-grabbing. Don't use the 
name of the organization in the subject line. Avoid exclamatory comments 
such as 'the most exciting, altogether; show don't tell the journalist 
why this story is worth more than a five-second glance. Double-check 
what you've written for accuracy, confirm spellings of names and 
products (with sources and/or via Google search), do a Spell Check, but 
don't rely on it for everything.]

About the National Federation of the Blind:

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is 
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people 
in the United States.   The NFB improves blind people's lives through 
advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging 
independence and self-confidence.

It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of 
the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National 
Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.



Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885

Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.

Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374

Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org


On 2/3/2011 5:18 PM, Peter Mikochik wrote:
> hi
> could you be specific about what the format should be.
>
> thanks pete
>
>
> On Thu, 3 Feb 2011, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
>
>> Donna,
>>
>> I agree that we need to double our efforts to really push the media to
>> recognize stories that exhibit the positive influence the Federation
>> continues to display.
>>
>> I have written news releases for local efforts here, but the media does
>> not always consider the story news worthy enough.
>>
>> I would love to assist you, or any other Federation group or person,
>> with writing news releases.  As you know, there is a very specific
>> formula for news releases, and I think when we follow the professional
>> standards established by the media, they will pay more attention to
>> material that they recognize.
>>
>> Anyway, I commend you for your efforts to promote the Federation and get
>> the word out there.
>>
>> Bridgit
>>
>> Message: 9
>> Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:11:53 -0500
>> From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind driver challenge
>> Message-ID: <4D4AB7A9.2080801 at epix.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> Hi Bridgit,
>> Thanks again. I would encourage people to contact their local media
>> about this and other stories that concern us. I'll be writing a letter
>> to the editor of our local papers today, and I think as writers, it
>> would benefit the NFB, the public and the cause of all blind people, if
>> we, as NFB members, would set aside some time to attempt to engage the
>> media.  For instance, the Today Show has ways for viewers to give them
>> feedback as do other shows, papers and magazines. The stories that have
>> been run have comment sections on their sites where you can voice your
>> thanks that a story was covered, explain things that were left out of
>> the story or -- in the case of media that hasn't covered this or other
>> NFB stories -- urge them to do so. Often you need to register, and I
>> have signed up at several sites including NPR, the New York Times and
>> the Washington Post so I don't have to do that, when something comes up.
>>
>> I urge anyone who is dissatisfied with the media's coverage of blindness
>>
>> issues to take advantage of  these opportunities, which are usually
>> accessible for screen reader users.
>>
>> I know it gets frustrating, when you write and nothing happens, but PR
>> is a game of small percentages resulting in big benefits. As media
>> relations specialist for the NFB of PA, I wrote to 40 journalists in the
>>
>> Philly area, for instance, telling them that a local retired teacher and
>>
>> the president of the Philly chapter of the NFB went to Daytona. To my
>> knowledge, none of them picked up the story. That is a disappointment to
>>
>> me, but it wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Someone is
>> reading those press releases, and maybe it'll take ten press releases or
>>
>> a hundred for that person to wake up, but that's the way it works, so I
>> just grit my teeth and do it. I do wish I knew that other people in the
>> rank and file of the NFB were working on this, though.
>> Donna
>>
>> Read Donna's articles on
>> Suite 101:
>> www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
>> Ezine Articles:
>> http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
>> American Chronicle:
>> www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885
>>
>> Connect with Donna on
>> Twitter:
>> www.twitter.com/dewhill
>> LinkedIn:
>> www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
>> FaceBook:
>> www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.
>>
>> Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
>> cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>> Apple I-Tunes
>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
>> 4
>>
>> Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
>> Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
>> www.padnfb.org
>>
>>
>> On 2/2/2011 10:53 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
>>> Lori and others,
>>>
>>> I know CNN and MSNBC ran stories on the Blind Driver Challenge too.
>>> It is nice to see writers like Donna, though, who have the opportunity
>>
>>> to relay the story from the perspective of a blind person.
>>>
>>> I was disappointed that The Today Show did not touch on the story at
>>> all.  I would say a blind man driving a car at the Daytona Speedway is
>>
>>> a rather news-worthy story.
>>>
>>> I notice that many Federation stories go unnoticed by major news
>>> syndicates except for those on the east coast that have a working
>>> relationship with the Federation.  A lot of our stories and
>>> initiatives are rather big in terms of world events and human interest
>>
>>> yet we do not always get the proper attention.  Wonder why?
>>>
>>> Thankfully, we have people like Donna, and others, who are dedicated
>>> to "getting the word out."
>>>
>>> Bridgit
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Writers Division web site:
>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org<http://www.nfb-writers-division.or
>>> g/>
>>>
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>> End of stylist Digest, Vol 82, Issue 3
>> **************************************
>>
>>
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