| A press kit is a packet of information about any | | | | sure it's attractively designed, and in color if possible. |
| subject that you want to bring to the attention of | | | | A unifying color scheme and logo design will make |
| local or national media. It contains fact sheets, | | | | your organization memorable. Give copies to |
| brochures, and press releases -- short | | | | members and supporters, and at any event your |
| announcements given to news media outlets. With | | | | group hosts or participates in. Put out copies at |
| the help of a press kit, you can get publicity for | | | | libraries, coffee shops, universities, grocery stores, |
| yourself, your organization or company. | | | | churches, etc. -- any place where it will be seen. |
| The following instructions are for a press kit for a | | | | Design an eye-catching letterhead and business cards. |
| social organization. | | | | Besides the organization's name, include telephone |
| As in all journalism, the first thing to ask when writing | | | | and email information, and a website address if any. |
| material for a press kit is What, Who, Why, When, | | | | Write a media advisory -- a very brief announcement |
| Where. Write those questions, then write the | | | | for the press -- any time your organization plans an |
| answers in brief sentences. | | | | activity such as a fundraiser, a newspaper, podcast, |
| Begin by creating a two-page brochure covering the | | | | radio or television interview, a booth at the county |
| following: | | | | fair, and so on. Media advisories briefly give facts |
| - The purpose of the organization, what it works to | | | | about the group, and the time, place, and planned |
| accomplish. | | | | activity. If your group will be involved in a lot of |
| - How the organization got started, who started it, | | | | activities, create a monthly events calendar. |
| when and how. | | | | News stories about your organization should be |
| - Names of people who are involved, and what they | | | | included. Besides newspaper and magazine clippings, it |
| do. | | | | might even be possible to add video or audio clips by |
| - Contact information for each individual involved. | | | | recording them to a mini-CD or DVD. |
| Include crisp, clear photos if possible. | | | | Supplementary to the paper press kit should be a |
| Keep these things brief in the brochure; the fact | | | | website or blog with the same design and the same |
| sheets can go into a bit more detail. | | | | information. |
| If you have endorsements from officials or other | | | | Make press kits by printing copies of all the above |
| groups working in your field, put those in the | | | | elements and placing them in folders, custom printed |
| brochure and include them in a fact sheet. For | | | | with your logo and design. As each new article or |
| example, a group dedicated to stopping child abuse | | | | announcement appears, add it to the press kit. |
| might have a brief endorsement from a social | | | | Send press kit folders to all media outlets and |
| workers' association. | | | | prospective supporters you want to reach. Mail out |
| Begin by designing and printing the brochure. Make | | | | new and updated material regularly. |