AAUW NC
Media Tips

Sample Media Releases

Time and energy goes into attending the AAUW NC Convention. Make sure your branch gets the word out about your efforts and why your members decided to make this effort!

Note that the 2007 Pay Equity Day is on April 24, 2007. [The average woman works from Jan. 1, 2006 to April 24, 2007 to make as much money as the average man made in the year 2006.] On that day will be releasing its new research report on the earnings gap. Those of you in the larger communities may have better luck getting a release into the paper if you use the "hook" of this report's release rather than the convention itself.

Here are three sample releases. Please read them all and combine them as you see fit. Note that there are suggestions for how to get quotes while in Winston-Salem. There will also be "photo opportunities" to capture your branch members with state/national leaders or receiving specific awards. Plan in advance to make sure you get home with the news you need and be sure to send your release to the media very soon after the event.

• Sample release for the host branch (could also send this as a media advisory with highlights of when local people will be speaking/participating)
• Sample release for a local branch
• Sample release tied to Pay Equity Day

If you have trouble opening those files, here are PDF versions:

Host branch | Local Branch | Pay Equity Day

See also http://www.aauw.org/newsroom/presskits/payGap.cfm for more information on the new AAUW report that will be released on April 23 and provide a "hook" for your press release.

Strategy

Check in advance to find out the e-mail address or the FAX number of your local media outlets. Remember to check for any weekly papers that might be published. If there are online communities that accept such announcements, consider them as well.

Any of the releases, particularly the one on pay equity, can be formatted as a letter to the editor, not just a general news item. You'll find quick links for letters to the editor at media section of capwiz.com/aauw

Followup

If you submit an article or a letter, please send it to info@aauwnc.org, too and we'll post it here. Let us know where and when it is published. Thanks!