A spokesperson for a community crime-prevention coalition was disappointed to learn that a local TV news crew was reassigned from covering his group's press conference on the need for community policing. He was told the camera crew would instead cover the trial of a mass murderer in Milwaukee. Make major use of community media. Though it should be obvious, community groups must do a better job than they usually do with their own community media. These media are more numerous than widely believed.
Community media are more than the local community newspaper chain.
A community that informs itself is better equipped to inform the outside world. Get to know and build relationships with individual reporters and editors who are interested in your issues. You and your organization should get to know them by taking the time to carefully monitor the media and identify reporters and editors most likely to cover your organization, community, and issues. Once you identify these journalists, call them, introduce yourself, and show how you can help them. Start to develop a relationship.