Tis’ the season for pitching holiday cheer!

The holidays are in full swing and for many companies it is the time of year to find ways to give to the less fortunate in the communities that they live and do business in. What organizations often struggle with, however, is how to go about sharing those stories with the general public.

 

What most do not know is that the holiday season is also a time of year when the media is looking for good news stories to share with their viewers. What a prime opportunity for local companies to share these “feel good” stories with the community.

 

But, how do you let the local media know that your organization is participating in such an event? There are a couple of ways.  

 

Send out a media alert to the local newspapers and television stations inviting them to cover your event. Whether it’s a blood drive, holiday party for a local non-profit or spending an afternoon in a soup kitchen, find an interesting angle to the story and pitch away. Make sure to include the details of the event, such as the time; place and a media contact person. Make sure that you have a great visual hook that would partner with the story for video or photo coverage. And always make sure that you have approval from the people or the organization benefiting from your generosity, so they know media may be present.

 

You can also take your own photos or video and submit them to the media or use them in your social media efforts. Does your organization own a Flip camera or is it easy to upload photos to your computer? Make sure to connect this footage to your Web site, e-mail campaigns to customers or your social media accounts often. Many media outlets also encourage you to submit photos with a caption describing the event, which is likely to garner print or Web site coverage.

 

And as always, make sure to think about the following tips for pitching the media, no matter the time of year or event. Is the story timely and involve people in the surrounding community? What is the visual piece attached to the story? Who will be your spokespeople to talk on behalf of the company…and are they prepared for the interview?

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the media is looking for stories to keep their viewers in bright spirits. Don’t let the opportunity of finding ways to garner good news coverage pass you by. 

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