Topic: How to get an article into your local paper - 9 easy steps!
pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
I've been sending things out to the state yahoo groups so I'm not sure if I posted this here already. Here are some basic steps to getting an article printed in your local paper.
Small town newspapers are usually very friendly and welcome well written, interesting articles that fill up their pages with little effort on their part.
Local interest is sometimes a requirement - your paper might want to interview you for the story and the reporter may write his/her own story. Or, you may supply names of other people in the area who are willing to be interviewed. Still, it all starts out with a simple phone call.
The PROCESS:
1. Look in your yellow pages under Newspapers. Make a list and leave a few blank lines after each one.
2. Call each paper and ask for the health or features editor or who you should talk to about running an article on Lyme disease during Lyme Disease Awareness Month - MAY. (Sometimes you will get into interesting conversations with newspaper staff, like the one who told me, "Oh yes, I 'had' that. Now I have fibromyalgia."
3. Ask whether they will run an article, if so, how many words (this year's is almost 600. Often 500 is a good limit to shoot for.)
4. Ask for the name and email address of the person to send it to. (I created an email list in my computer address book of these folks in my area, handy to use again.)
5. Ask if they want any graphics and if they need 200dpi (dots per inch). That's pretty standard. I have some graphics, maybe you can find some, too.
6. Ask when their deadline is.
7. After you send the article, call to find out if your contact person has got it. You may want to call again in a few days or a week to see if the project is still on track. Things can get lost in piles on desks.
8. Save your list. It will be handy next year when we do this again!
9. Finally, let everyone know how easy it was and become a cheerleader for this project. Check your newspaper for your story to see how it came out. You and everyone will be so excited if you are successful!
Good luck!
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
phyllis, this was buried with the 50 state 2007 info.
with ALL the letter writing WE ALL ARE DOING, this needs to stay on 1st page, and better yet, another FEATURE; what do you say phyllis?
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pmerv
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1504
posted
fine, Betty, no idea how to do that but it's ok with me if people think it is useful.
-------------------- Phyllis Mervine LymeDisease.org Posts: 1808 | From Ukiah, California, USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
phyllis,
i just sent email to jenifer/lou b asking that it be made a feature sticky!
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I am new. when is Lyme awareness month
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi merry; so glad to see you posting again!!
it's officially may 13 w/fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, but
we on the board decided it can be ANY TIME YOU CHOSE IT TO BE....
for me, it's the entire month of JUNE! i put up a lyme display at our ames public library:
ordered brochures from LDA: abcs of lyme & tick cards,
ordered from igenex their blue western blot igm/igg brochure & CURRENT PRICE LIST of all tests...ordered like 200 of EACH and said how i would use them.
i also made copies of LDA/BETTY brochure i retyped from scratch adding their CO-INFECTION into this one since lda's is illegible w/small print & awful timesnewroman running all words together!
i ordered a box of PHA, public health alert newspaper, and got them this week and taking them to library today as well as taking 2nd set of photos as none turned out 1st time around!
so again, it's anytime you chose it to be .... keeps LYME AWARENESS YEAR ROUND!
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