Campaigns to End Violence against Women and Girls - Virtual ...

Practical Instructions
Your press kit should contain the following, kept neatly in a folder:
� A press release
� A list of press conference participants/speakers
� Background information about the issue (e.g., statistics, case histories, or reprints of
news stories)
� A few black & white glossy photographs if available (action photos are most
interesting)
� Short (less than a page) biographies of participants/speakers
� Related news stories from prestigious national publications if any
Letters to the editor
Letters to the editor are usually written in response to a specific article that has
appeared in a newspaper or magazine. Such letters can be used to highlight aspects of
the campaign, correct any misconceptions or errors in the article, and reinforce key
messages.
It is important to note that how or whether letters are accepted is very much determined
by the media outlet, and can vary widely from outlet to outlet, and country to country.
Ensure that you follow the instructions given by the media outlet for how to submit letters
(e.g. only by email, etc).
Practical Instructions
The Center for Reproductive Rights Advocacy Guide (2003, adapted) recommends:
� Letters to the editor are usually printed no more than two or three days after the
article appeared in the paper. So write the letter and send it quickly.
� Make the letter no more than approximately 200 words long. Be succinct.
� Refer to the exact date and title of the article you react to, possibly in the first
sentence of your letter.
� If the letter is coming from your group, use paper with your organization’s logo on it.
If it is coming just from you, use plain paper.
� You can organize a letter writing campaign in response to an article related to your
campaign issue. When print media receive large numbers of letters, they are more
likely to publish one or two of them.
� Include your name, title and the name of your alliance or organization on the bottom
of the page.
� Make sure your facts and numbers are correct.
� Letters that are typed stand the best chance of getting printed.
� Make your point without being negative or attacking.
� If your letter doesn’t get printed, keep trying with other letters when important articles
appear.
Open/Opinion editorial columns
Open editorial columns or op-eds are essays in the press written by guests, e.g. experts
on an issue. Find out from the newspaper or magazine what their requirements for opeds
are. Op-eds could be contributed by campaign leaders or appointed spokespeople,
or even a well-known public figure connected to the campaign.
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Campaigns December 2011