TRIADOPTION ® Library, Inc. - CA ~ Pg 369-480

y KAROL KERN DODSON
former ALMA -- Arizona PR
There's a quote something to the
effect that doing business without
advertising is like winking at a girl
'in the dark --- you're the only one
.who knows what you' re doing! The
same holds true of groups who do not
obtain adequate pub1 i ci ty to inform
.peopl,e of their existence. No matter
how good your service, it is useless
if people aren' t .aware of it.
Mass .media is the most efficient means
to reach the maximum number of people.
It is easy to study up on the media in
your area. The print media is in the
ye1 1 ow pages under "newspapers". The
'radio and TV stations can be found in
I II
the white pages under "K s (west of
I II
the Mississippi ) or "W .s (east of the
Mississippi). Local press clubs can
often supply lists of people, stations,
papers and their phone numbers and
addresses .
NEWSPAPERS ( (
Newspapers often have a c.aI endar
section that will readily list your
meetings. There are runni ng columns
that might be interested in mentioning
your group. If you have a good writer
member and something significant and
RELEVANT occurs in the community send
an editorial. (These-
are read and get
good response). The Editor of a paper
might be interested in doing a feature
story on the group or a particular
member. Call and ask. Or better yet
track down a writer you feel has a
humanistic approach and ask that person.
Newspapers consume a vast quantity of
materi a1 each day to fill those pages,
they are often ready to give some space
to a controversial issue and a "human
interest" story.
PSA's
Radio Stations are probably the best
bet for PSA's and Public Interest
Programming. Some of them have a
Bulletin Board type segment where they
1 ist coming events. A phone call will
tell you if they will announce your
meetings. (They will usually request
these 1 to 2 weeks in advance in
writing. )
A1 though - a1 1 broadcasting facil ities
are licensed by the FCC to operate
"in the.public Interest", there is a
special group worthy of your attention.
PUBLIC BROADCASTING. In radio they are
usually member stations of the National
Public Radio Network (NPR) and operate
at 88.0 -92.0 FM. In TV they are usually
members of PBS (Pub1 i c Broadcasti ng System
NPR has a group of stations on a "round-.
robin hook-up" - these are mostly in the
New England States - and these are by far.
the heaviest contri butdrs of network
programming. If you want a list of the.
pub1 ic .broadcast,i ng stations in your area
write to the networks.
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
2025 N. Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM
475 L'Efant Plaza West, SbJ
Washington, D.C. 20024
Both NPR & PBS are provided for in
part by the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting which is a grant funded by
Congress. Due to this they carry no
commercials and member stations are
generally a 1 ittle more responsive to
public interest issues and topical
eontri'buti ans,.
Detehmi ne whst your group qua1 if ies
fop i.ri thai n the local set up and call
the news di rec'to'r or program director.
If they help, thank them in writing.
Some of these stations are, regular
contri butors to their network and
they might want to submit the tape they
did on you to the network. COOPERATE.
The network may not accept it but it is
.certainly worth .a try.