SSV Media Kit - School Sport Victoria

Guidelines for Engaging Media Support For Your Local School Sport Victoria Events
The following is provided to assist you in gaining some media coverage for district, division and region school
sport events. Each newspaper has an editor and a sports editor. The name and email address of each
metropolitan and regional newspaper is attached. The name of sports editor can be found by phoning /
emailing newspaper.
Make initial contact (personal or by phone) with editor / sports editor re School Sport Victoria
(providing some key numbers:
2,400 schools 550,000 students playing school sport from year 4 –year 12
9 regions 106 divisions 206 districts
Outline your role as (region, division, district coordinator) responsible for organising inter school sport
for (insert number) number of schools
Ensure the correct names of School Sport Victoria and the name of your district, division, region are
mentioned in all stories.
Be aware of the distribution area of the particular newspaper. Usually one newspaper will cover
several SSV districts or divisions. One SSV region may involve 3 or 4 regional or Leader newspapers.
They prefer stories that relate to the particular readership area.
Offer the sports editor the opportunity to provide major coverage of your 3 major events throughout
the year. ie swimming, cross country and track & field. High participation numbers lead to high
reader numbers. Be able to provide approximate participation numbers for your 3 major events.
In addition to a discussion, provide a written request of what you would like (coverage of event)and
what you can offer (access to event, story, results, photo opportunities)
Some newspapers have a Junior Sport Section, where school sport would be a good fit. Others may
well consider this.
Provide newspaper with the key dates of your 3 major events either towards end of term 4 or early
term 1 so they can plan for reporters / photographers. Make a follow up phone call 2 weeks prior to
the event and again a few days before event. Keep regular contact with newspaper ( ie about 6 times
per year)
For one - off stories, provide media with at least 2 weeks notice.
Ensure all schools in district, division, region are aware the media may be in attendance and that you
have been made aware of any students who are not to be reported on or photographed.
Where a reporter cannot attend, it is helpful if the coordinator can send the full results to the
newspaper for publishing.
Ensure the photographer or reporter reports to the teacher in charge of the event, shows media ID
and is issued with an orange vest or similar, for identification while on the field of play.
Have someone ie convenor or a Principal, available to be quoted for a story.

Ensure the convenor has made time to talk to the reporter to ensure the story is accurate and is
supportive of school sport.
Where the newspaper is seeking a comment on a controversial issue, refer the newspaper
immediately to SSV head office.
The SSV Privacy Policy allows for the publishing of results and photographs in order to celebrate
achievements in school sport. Each school is responsible for advising the teacher in change of the
event, the names of students for whom permission to photograph or report on is not given.
The local media is often interested in feel good stories, however schools / coordinators often need to
provide the copy and accompanying photo. These stories could include:
• the participation of students with disabilities
• students being selected to represent Victoria in one of our 62 Team Vic
representative teams that compete at a national level
• a school that has overcome adversity to achieve sporting success
• a school / team that has won numerous state / region championships in a particular
sport
Advise SSV when the local media publishes a school sport story about one of your events.
For further assistance with media, contact Robyn Miller at SSV on miller.robyn.rn@edumail.vic.gov.au

An Example of a Media Release. Important to have a brief summary of when, where and time (and if a
full day event the best time for a photo opportunity) The media may send a photographer, in which case your
written summary assists in creating the story. On other occasions, if a photographer is not available, you may
need to send photos to accompany your story. Many suburban or country newspapers employ part time
photographer or journalists who work across a number of newspapers.
MEDIA RELEASE
MELBOURNE VICTORY FOOTBALL PLAYERS
SUPPORT TOMORROW’S SOCCEROOS
When:
Thursday June 14 th
Where: Fawkner Park Commercial Rd South Yarra ovals 1,3,6
Time:
10.00am-2pm (photo opportunity 1pm -2pm)
Melbourne Victory players Adrian Leijer, Lawrence Thomas, Billy Celeski and Petar Franjic will attend the “ME
Bank Victory Cup” Football Championships on Thursday June 14 th at Fawkner Park South Yarra. The Victory
players will provide advice on improving students football skills and sharing their football journey. Adrian
Leijer, the captain of Melbourne Victory has played 115 A League games and played for the Socceroos, while
Lawrence, Billy and Peter have been members of the Young Socceroos and played in the Under 20 World Cup
for Australia. The ME Bank Victory Cup forms part of the inter school sport program conducted by School
Sport Victoria.
Participating schools in the Beachside Division of the “ME Bank Victory Cup” Boys Year 8, will include Malvern
Central School, Elwood College, Albert Park College, Glen Eira College, Cheltenham Secondary College and
Liebler Yavneh College. Competing in the “ME Bank Victory Cup” for Girls Year 8 will be Mentone Girls
Secondary College, Elwood College and Glen Eira College.
The winning schools will proceed to the Southern Region Football finals to be held in July, with the winners
progressing to the state finals to be held at Darebin International Sports centre in September. The competition
is part of School Sport Victoria’s winter program where up to 2,300 schools compete across the state in
Football / Soccer, Netball, Australian Football, Teeball, Badminton, Hockey
In an Olympic year, everyone’s attention is focussed on participating in quality sport and the students from the
Beachside Division are certainly leading the way.
For more information please contact Robyn Miller at School Sport Victoria on 0400 964 753 or
miller.robyn.rn@edumail.vic.gov.au

MEDIA RELEASE TEMPLATE
HEADING
When
(something catchy)
(date)
Where
Time (best time for interview / photo opp)
Story Summary
For further details contact

Metropolitan Newspapers
Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Age
Bayside Leader
Berwick Leader
Brimbank Leader
Cranbourne Leader
Dandenong Leader
Diamond Valley Leader
Knox Weekly
Fern Tree Gully Belgrave Mail
Mt. Evelyn Mail
Upper Yarra Mail
Dandenong Star
Frankston Leader
Frankston Leader
Heidelberg Leader
Heidelberg Leader
Hume Leader
Knox Leader
Lilydale Yarra Valley leader
Manningham Leader
Maribyrnong Leader
Maroondah Leader
Melbourne Leader
Melton Leader
Moonee Valley Leader
Moorabool Leader
Moreland Leader
Melbourne Bayside Weekly
Melbourne Weekly Eastern
Melbourne Weekly Port Phillip
Melbourne Weekly Times
Mornington Peninsula Weekly
Western Port Weekly
Wyndham Weekly
Northcote Leader
Pakenham Cardinia Leader
Preston Leader
Progress Leader
Berwick Pakenham Gazette
Keilor Star
Whittlesea Review
Whittlesea Mernda Doreen Star
St Albans Caroline Springs Star
hssport@heraldsun.com.au
news@heraldsun.com.au
newsdesk@theage.com.au
bayside@leadernewspapers.com.au
berwick@leadernewspapers.com.au
brimbank@leadernewspapers.com.au
cranbourne@leadernewspapers.com.au
dandenong@leadernewspapers.com.au
diamondvalley@leadernewspapers.com.au
eastnews@yourweekly.com.au@
edit.rtmail@yvnews.com.au
edit.rtmail@yvnews.com.au
edit@yvnews.com.au
editor@stargroup.com.au
frankston@leadernewspapers.com.au
frankston@leadernewspapers.com.au
heidelberg@leadernewspapers.com.au
heidelberg@leadernewspapers.com.au
hume@leadernewspapers.com.au
knox@leadernewspapers.com.au
lilydale@leadernewspapers.com.au
manningham@leadernewspapers.com.au
maribyrnong@leadernewspapers.com.au
maroondah@leadernewspapers.com.au
melbourne@leadernewspapers.com.au
melton@leadernewspapers.com.au
mooneevalley@leadernewspapers.com.au
moorabool@leadernewspapers.com.au
moreland@leadernewspapers.com.au
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
newsroom@fairfax.com
Northcote@leadernewspapers.com.au
pakenham@leadernewspapers.com.au
preston@leadernewspapers.com.au
progress@leadernewspapers.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au

Werribee Hoppers Crossing Star
Hume Star
Stonnington Leader
Sunbury Leader
Caulfield Glen Eira Leader
Port Phillip Leader
Waverley Monash Oakleigh Leader
Hobsons Bay Weekly
Whitehorse Leader
Williamstown Hobsons Bay Leader
Wyndham Leader
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au
stonnington@leadernewspapers.com.au
sunbury@leadernewspapers.com.au
theleader@leadernewspapers.com.au
theleader@leadernewspapers.com.au
waverley@leadernewspapers.com.au
westnews@yourweekly.com.au
whitehorse@leadernewspapers.com.au
williamstown@leadernewspapers.com.au
wyndham@leadernewspapers.com.au
Regional Newspapers
Ararat Advertiser
Bairnsdale Advertiser
Ballarat Courier
Bellarine Ensign
Bendigo Advertiser
Border Mail
Camperdown Chronicle
Colac Herald
Euroa Gazette
Geelong Advertiser
Geelong News
Gippsland Times
Horsham Advertiser
Kilmore Free Press
Latrobe Valley Express
Mortlake Dispatch
Ovens Murray Courier
Riverine Herald
Shepparton Adviser
Shepparton News
Sunraysia Daily
Surf Coast Times
Swan Hill Guardian
Wangaratta Chronicle
Warracknabeal Herald
Warrnambool Standard
Wimmera Mail Times
Wallan Kilmore Broadford Star
ararateditorial@ruralpress.com
editorial@eastvicmedia.com.au
editassist@thecourier.com.au
editorial@geelongindependent.com.au
newsdesk@bendigoadvertiser.com.au
newsroom@bordermail.com.au
sport@wdnews.com.au
editor@colacherald.com
editor@euroa-gazette.com.au
journo@geelongadvertiser.com.au
editorial@geelongindependent.com.au
lsmith@gippslandtimes.com.au
weeklyadvertiser@team.aceradio.com.au
kilmore@starnewsgroup.com.au
reception@lvexpress.com.au
sport@wdnews.com.au
inquiries@thecourier.com.au
online@mmg.com.au
editorial@sheppartonadviser.com.au
online@mmg.com.au
sport@sunraysiadaily.com.au
editorial@geelongindependent.com.au
sport@theguardian.com.au
edit.chronicle@nenews.com.au
wkherald@netconnect.com.au
skelly@standard.fairfax.com.au
newsdesk@mailtimes.com.au
star@starnewsgroup.com.au