Florida City Government Week
Media and Public Relations Tips
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There are several steps that can be taken to promote and publicize your city's project. A list of suggestions follows:
Get the local media involved from the beginning!
Be sure to designate a contact person for your project who can be reached by the media during city hours and after.
Write a guest editorial that talks about Florida City Government Week and the importance of cities, and submit it to your newspaper(s) opinion page editor for use during Florida City Government Week. (Check with your newspaper on deadlines.)
Schedule an editorial board meeting with your local newspaper(s) to formally discuss your city and the city’s involvement with Florida City Government Week. (Note: This meeting should occur at least one or two weeks prior to Florida City Government Week.)
Notify the education reporter or one that covers city activities for your local newspaper. Invite the reporter to sit in on or be a part of any meetings you have with the school.
Keep reporters informed of your activities. Send the local newspaper(s), television and radio station(s) a media advisory to alert them to upcoming activities and a press release(s) to publicize your activities. (See sample press release.)
Send a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper(s). (A sample letter is provided. Please amend as necessary. Be sure to verify the deadline and requirements for submission.)
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Encourage reporters to consider writing a series of articles on your project event.
As you coordinate this project with school officials, the supervisor of elections, your PTO/PTA, and other groups, encourage them to assist you in generating publicity.
Consider scheduling an interview about your project on the local television or radio talk show and/or your cable-access channel.
Highlight your activities on your city Web site, with a link to FLC’s Web site. Be sure to put your Web site address on ALL communications with the media.
Promotional materials may be prepared, such as t-shirts, pencils and buttons (they need to be ordered well in advance of the event). These items help to generate interest throughout the entire community - and also offer a souvenir of the event long past the actual week. If you have support from local businesses, it’s possible these items could be donated.
If you conduct this event during Florida City Government Week, you can publicize the significance of hosting your project during this week, which focuses on citizen participation and pride in city government. Your event can be coordinated with other Florida City Government Week activities. And don’t forget to stress the importance of students understanding the election process.
A post-press release may be issued.
Be sure to send thank you letters to the newspaper reporter/editor if you receive favorable press on the event.
Don’t forget to plan for and take good quality photos (both black and white and color - no Polaroid’s) for reprint in local publications and for dissemination. The Florida League of Cities would be interested in these photos for possible use in their publications. (See Summary and Evaluation of Activities Sheet.)
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| Sample Resolution | Sample Letter to the Editor | Summary & Evaluation Form |
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