Media Guide Media Guide and support

Transcription

1 Media Guide 2016 Media Guide and support

2 Media Guide 2016 The school trustee elections involve everyone from all communities - iwi, Pasifika, parents, wh nau and families. The local media offers a great way to tell people about this important event. The NZSTA school trustee elections team will be sending out media releases to national, local and education media throughout the campaign, but each school can also play a very important part in telling their stories in their local media.

3 Your school can make headlines Your local media is very interested in issues that involve their readers... the news of their local community. Journalists like stories about education and schools as many of the readers will have family members who are part of the education system. The school trustee elections campaign is an event that local media can support but they have to know what is going on. By working constructively with local reporters, you can give them news articles that are relevant to their audience and get this key information to all the people who need to know. The following could make good headlines: Election countdown begins for local schools Create a positive profile The school trustee elections are a great opportunity for schools to talk about positive achievements. It is a chance for the board and the school to paint a picture of the good things going on. But the media needs news - and that means finding something interesting, new and worth talking about. What you want is for informed people to think about putting themselves forward for nomination or encouraging informed people with a balance of skills, experiences, gender and ethnicity to think about standing. You can help to inform them about the challenges and the opportunities of trusteeship and the difference that being a trustee can make for your school. Local schools gear up for trustee elections. Use your skills for your local schools - says retiring school trustee Being a school trustee is very rewarding Local people encouraged to make a difference for our schools

4 Writing a media release If you choose to write a media release, ask yourself the same questions that reporters do before you put pen to paper. These include: - What? Why? - Where? When? - Who? How? Remember to say the most important thing first - Just as you would if you were reporting something exciting to a friend. Make sure the headline and first line grabs attention. The reader needs to know who is saying what - so attribute information to your agreed spokesperson. What should your release look like? One page is enough. Make sure the layout is easy to read. Include your name and contact number - if you give a mobile number make sure it is going to be switched on. NZSTA ELECTION ADVICE LINE 0800 ELECTION electionsadvice@nzsta.org.nz Use interesting language, colourful words and phrases that the reporter will be able to use. Keep your sentences short. Repeat information from previous media releases. Don t assume that people will remember what you have told them before. Don t forget to include a contact name and number for the journalist to call if they need more information - and make sure the contact person will be available.

5 The following is an example of how your media release can be laid out: DATE TO: CHIEF REPORTER / EDUCATION REPORTER SCHOOL LOGO ADDRESS INTERESTING HEADLINE (Make the reader want to read it) Each sentence is a paragraph in media writing, which makes it easier to read. Media releases also often have a double space between paragraphs so it doesn t look squashed up. Journalists really like to see direct quotes included, says Ace Reporter, expert media writer in New Zealand. [Ends] (this lets them know the release is finished) For further information contact: (your contact person; their contact details) CONTACT NAME CONTACT NUMBER CONTACT

6 When you are interviewed You need to know what the interview is about before you get into an interview. Don t be caught on the hop. Ask them: What media organisation they work for. What issues they want to cover. If anyone else is being interviewed. What their deadline is then tell them you will call them back. Take 10 minutes to get your thoughts in order. Talk to other people if need be. Sort out what you want to say. Write down your ideas. What if they don t publish your story? If you don t hear from the reporter after your initial approach, give them a call and find out what is happening. Remember though, they have the right to make the call about whether your information is newsworthy. Don t be too pushy. Most reporters are happy to hear about potential news stories but sometimes more newsworthy stories will mean that your story doesn t get covered. The media can only use so many news articles and it can be just bad luck if your information gets swamped. However, don t give up. It does not mean that the reporters are not interested in your issues. Call the reporter back.

7 Don t hide your light under a bushel We need great school boards of trustees to lead great schools. We need informed people from the parent and wider community with a balance of skills and experiences on our boards to step forward. Potential trustees may be in the school parent community or in the wider community - but everyone needs information to make the choice to stand, and voters need information to exercise their vote. The media offers an opportunity to talk to a whole range of people. But reporters may not know about the school trustee elections and trusteeship unless you tell them. Right the wrongs When you see something in the newspaper, on radio or on television about the school trustee elections that is not correct, be prepared to call the journalist and say so. Be sure of your facts though. Be polite and prepared when you call and give the reporter your contact details so they can call to check things out in the future. Journalists don t want to have wrong information in their news stories - and would prefer to know quickly than to repeat the erroneous information. Sometimes people might get the wrong end of the stick on talk-back radio. This is a great opportunity for knowledgeable people to call in and be prepared to go on air and state the true situation. NZSTA ELECTION ADVICE LINE 0800 ELECTION electionsadvice@nzsta.org.nz

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