• General Media Relations
• Writing & Using Press Releases
• Letters to the Editor
• Grabbing Media Attention
  
• Crafting Talking Points & Message Clarification
• How Not To Use the Media
  

Whether you're a fresh new group ready to make a splash, or an established organization hoping to build up a campaign, knowing how to use media is key. This page lists some of our resources for getting your name in the papers, in a good way!

General Media Relations

At the 2002 SSA Conference, Matt and Shannon Cherry did a great presentation about interacting with the media.  There is a powerpoint entitled "Frugal Public Relations: Making a Big Impact without spending big money " and the audio to go with it.

Writing & Using Press Releases

When your group officially begins, an introductory press release may get you some initial media coverage, and at the very least will get reporters familiar with who you are. The SSA has a sample press release to introduce your group to the world!

Duncan Crary was the Director of Communications at the Institute for Humanist Studies, and has  written an excellent article about how to write and use press releases effectively: PR With a Secular Spin: How to Write a Press Release. Fred Edwords of the American Humanist Association has also prepared a guide to press releases, media advisories, and press conferences.

Once you have written a press release, a critical question is: Who do I send my press releases to? Thanks to the American Humanist Association, the SSA has a subscription to a comprehensive database of media contact information.  We can help your group generate a media contact list in your area to alert local reporters to your activities!. We can help you write releases and issue them on your behalf to local media.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor are a great way to generate buzz about your group, your activities, and your issues. Newspapers who see a lot of them are more likely to report on those topics; politicians and local leaders also read them to see what their constituents think. Fred Edwords has prepared a great introduction to writing snappy, attention-grabbing letters that will get you published and noticed! You may also be interested in this letter to the editor planning sheet, which is excerpted from a guide by Americans United.

Of course, knowing how to write a press release or a letter to the editor won't help if you're not written about. Why don't reporters write about you? Generally, its simply because reporters haven't notice you. This guide from the Drug Policy Alliance simply lists ten crucial ways to get the attention of media workers. This packet comes from Campusactivism.org (http://www.campusactivism.org/displayresource-112.htm). The Drug Policy Alliance can be contacted at http://www.drugpolicy.org. 

Crafting Talking Points & Message Clarification

Once you have media attention, you want to know not just what you want to say, but how you're going to say it; this will make sure that your points come across clearly, accurately, and vividly. Fred Edwords has prepared two guides that can help you with this. The message clarification worksheet will help you develop your message, as well as generate sub-topics and defenses to questions. The talking point & sound-bite planner will help you come up with quick quips and witty remarks that will ensure you get quoted. Both are great tools for any media interaction, such as interviews and press releases; they can also be very helpful to use while planning an event or campaign!

Another useful resource on this topic is a mini-packet on Talking to the Press,courtesy of Americans United. This covers protocol for communicating with the press, as well as essential tips for giving a good interview. Included is a handy guide to general questions on church-state issues, which will help you anticipate and defuse these common misconceptions.

How Not To Use the Media

On radio, television, and in the newspapers, we're constantly encountering advertisers, politicians, and preachers who use manipulative rhetoric to delude the public. It's important that your group doesn't unwittingly use their techniques! This list of the seven hallmark techniques of manipulative propagandists is a pretty helpful list of things to avoid when using the media.