Families Day - press release guide

Call your local reporter

Try calling your local news reporters (radio and television) first to talk to them about your event and why they should be interested. It helps if there’s something a little bit special you can mention about the event. For instance, if a child is on your organising committee or a well-known celebrity will be attending, or the event is something unusual, innovative or heart warming.

It's a good idea to have a media release ready to send to the journalist to support your phone call. Some journalists are known to copy stories directly from media releases, so you never know your luck!

How to write a media release

The aim of a media release is to attract a journalist's attention and make them want to cover your story. This means you need a catchy heading and introduction, with a news angle, eg something unusual or a human interest story. If you have a good photo opportunity, mention it. Journalists love photos!

Whatever focus you choose for your story, you must remember to cover the basics. Your media release must always say what is happening, why, when, where it's happening and who is involved. Be sure your press release is interesting and newsworthy – if it reads like an advertisement it’s likely to go straight into the bin.

Some general rules:

• Keep it brief and to the point, no more than one A4 page, formatted with type that is at least 11 point and spaced so that it is easy to read.
• Write a headline that encapsulates what your release is about and makes it sound interesting – never more than a single line.
• Use short sentences.
• Order your information so that you start with the most important paragraphs at the top with the least important at the bottom.
• Journalists like quotes that add colour – quote yourself if there is no-one else. If you quote someone, ask their permission first.
• Include contact details, ie your name, phone number (including mobile phone if you're not always by your landline) and email address.
• Check and recheck all the details, spelling and grammar. Make sure the date, time, and venue of your event are correct.
• Follow up your media release with a phone call.

Sample media release

Eight-year-old Jamie Brown is helping to plan a family fun day for Families Day on 15 May.

"It's going to be an awesome day and everything is free!" said Jamie.

The event will be held at the Jamestown Recreation Centre from 11am-3pm. There will be face painting, mask-making, storytelling, games for children and adults to play together, as well as interactive workshops on dance and drumming.

The planning team for the fun day asked Jamie to join the committee when they realised that they needed a child's perspective to plan a day for all the family.

"Jamie has been amazing," said Jamie's father Leroy Brown, who is also on the planning team. "He was really keen to have activities that all the family could enjoy together, including grandparents."

Families Day is an international day that is recognised on 15 May each year, as the result of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution passed in 1993. It is a day to celebrate the strength and importance of families, as well as consider solutions for any family-related issues.

When asked what he was looking forward to most Jamie said, "The egg and spoon race. I really want to beat my Dad!"

Details

Venue: Jamestown Recreation Centre
Date: 15 May
Time: 11am-3pm

About Families Day

Families Day (officially the International Day of Families) is recognised on 15 May each year, as the result of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution passed in 1993. The aim is to "Promote awareness of issues relating to the family as the basic unit of society as well as promote the importance of families."

This year the theme set by the UN is Fathers and Families – responsibilities and challenges.

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