District 5790 Public Relations

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District 5790 Public Relations
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District 5790 Public Relations

• Spreading our Message

A special how-to with tips and resources for
clubs
Rotary District 7590 www.rotary5790.org
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• About this show

This show is third in a series meant to give tips
on spreading your Rotary messages and resources
to help you find answers to questions.
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• Planning your public relations

Story ideas may pop up, but ideally your public
relations effort will be planned.
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Places to look for ideas

• Planning your Rotary public relations

• Look in editorial calendars published by
  publications. Look for months where they are
  focusing on things that your club focuses
  oneducation, health, nonprofits, etc. Sometimes
  these are located online in media kits or
  advertising kits.
• Look at special sections or segments about
  community leaders. One example is the Dossier
  section of the Fort Worth Business Press where
  local business leaders are highlighted. Your new
  president might make a good dossier feature.
• Look at District 5790s calendar (more in a later
  slide)
• Look at Rotary Internationals calendar

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Places to look for ideas

• Planning your Rotary public relations

• Create a calendar or list of your programs
• Identify which programs have potential
  newsworthiness
• Watch the PR e-mails from the district (upcoming
  slide) and Rotary International
• Look through Rotary Internationals collection of
  PSAs (public service ads/announcements)
• See what media opportunities and outlets exist
  in your area
• Look for other stories in the media spotlight
  that tie into your programs or events

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District 5790 Calendar

• Planning your Rotary public relations

• July 1 New Rotary Year a short blurb to the
  local media about your new president and/or other
  leaders
• Sept. 18 End Polio Now Night at the Texas
  Rangers This is a district-wide event at the
  game against Los Angeles
• Ideas If a group from your locale travels in,
  take pictures for local media or blog from event.
  You could send a brief report from the game to
  the sports desk. Sports writers columnists are
  looking for human interest to attract other
  readers to their section.
• Oct. 24 World Polio Day District would like
  all clubs to focus a polio-related project on
  this day

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Rotary International Calendar

• Planning your Rotary public relations

These month celebrations might help with ideas
for newsworthy stories
August--Membership and Extension
Month September--New Generations
Month October--Vocational Service
Month November--Rotary Foundation
Month December--Family Month January--Rotary
Awareness Month February--World Understanding
Month March--Literacy Month April--Magazine
Month June--Rotary Fellowships Month
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Rotary International Calendar

• Planning your Rotary public relations

Other calendar items that might help with ideas
for newsworthy stories
World Polio Day Oct. 24 World Diabetes Day
Nov. 14 International Volunteer Day Dec.
5 World Leprosy Day Jan. 31 World Cancer Day
Feb. 4 Rotarys Anniversary Feb. 23 Earth Day
April 22 World Environment Day June 5
Rotary Calendar
Online
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• Experts and sources

Rotary is a gold mind for potential sources and
experts who can help reporters better tell
stories to their audiences.
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Experts, Sources Ideas

• Building relationships with media outlets

You may not have a story to pitch, but you can
build relationship with reporters and media
outlets by being a resource for them. Your club
has a wealth of knowledge to offer. See if
members would agree to be added to a list of
experts that you can submit to media outlets.
There are times when reporters are hustling to
find sources. Some are predictable and others
depend on breaking news. Does your club have a
WWII vet with a great story that could be shared
on Memorial Day or V-Day? Example Look at your
local colleges Web site. Typically, it will list
campus members who are experts in their field and
are available to talk on subjects.

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Experts, Sources Ideas

• Building relationships with media outlets

If you have a story idea, even if unrelated to
Rotary, share it with a reporter. This positions
you and your club as a media-friendly.
Reporters are grateful for story ideas.

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District 5790 PR Network

• Connecting club public relations chairs and
  others to share ideas, successes, etc.
• Public relations chairs are encouraged to join
  the network
• Simply send an e-mail to Rotary5790PR-subscribe_at_ya
  hoogroups.com (use Subscribe as your subject
  line)

Rotary District 7590 www.rotary5790.org
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Resources for Your Club

• Rotary International site www.rotary.org
• RI Public Service Ads/Announcements
• District site www.rotary5790.org
• PR Network for District 5790 Rotary5790PR_at_yahoogr
  oups.com
• PR Tips e-mail through www.rotary.org
• Jeff Crilleys e-newsletter www.realnewspr.com
• Effective Public Relations a book from Rotary

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Great Resource for Your Club

• Effective Public Relations is a book available
  through Rotary.org.

Rotary District 7590 www.rotary5790.org
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Concluding Thoughts

• ALL of us are responsible for spreading our
  message
• Journalists are not the enemy
• You CAN spread Rotarys message
• Think newsworthy, not noteworthy
• District PR Committee is here to help

Rotary District 7590 www.rotary5790.org
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Sources Contact

• Images and logos from Rotary.org
• Effective Public Relations A Guide for Rotary
  Clubs (pr_at_rotary.org)
• Inside Reporting by Tim Harrower
• The PR Style Guide by Barbara Diggs-Brown
• Sarah Maben, Rotary Club of FW SouthDistrict
  5790 PR Chair, 817-291-1997
• mabens_at_charter.net, http//www.rcfws.org

Rotary District 7590 www.rotary5790.org