Generating Publicity for Your Program
Once you are receiving books from Page Ahead, publicizing book distributions is beneficial to both your site and to Page Ahead. The more publicity our joint efforts receive, the more likely it is that our book drives, fundraising campaigns, and special events will succeed.
Sample Press Release
Suggestions for Attracting Media
- Create a list of the newsletters, newspapers, radio, and television stations in your community that publish or broadcast stories about education. If a specific reporter is assigned to the education beat, find out his/her name.
- When you have a special event coming up, write a press release describing it. (Follow the link above for a sample press release.) Send your press release to the media outlets in your community.
- Follow up with a phone call. Direct the reporter's attention to an interesting "angle" about your book distribution—a community leader who is speaking at the event, prizes donated by local businesses, a contest with an unusual twist, or an event theme that is imaginative and unique. Invite the reporter.
- If the reporter shows interest but is unable to attend, offer to send information about your event and about Page Ahead. (See the last paragraph of the sample press release and contact us for additional materials.) If the reporter expresses an interest in running pictures but the media outlet is unable to send a photographer, offer to take pictures yourself. Ask the reporter what form (digital, color, black and white) is preferred. (Remember to secure a photo release form from the parents of your subjects.)
- Page Ahead can help you. Call Dianna MacLeod at 206-461-0123 for advice and assistance.
Let the Children Help
Letters from children are the best possible way of thanking our donors. Page Ahead regularly forwards letters written by your students to those who donate money and books. There is no more effective testimonial to the power of books and reading. The best kind of letter from a child is not a rote copy of a phrase by a teacher, but the child's own words in the child's own hand. Letters written on a computer are less effective. Prompt children by asking them to write a letter describing:
- the name of the book they received
- what happened in the book
- what they learned from the book
- whether they shared the book with a parent or sibling or friend
Photos of the children enjoying books are also appreciated, as are hand-drawn pictures of the book cover or a key event in the book.
Please Send Thank-You Letters from Students and Staff to Us
- Page Ahead
1130 NW 85th Street
Seattle WA 98117