If you want a journalist to come to your event, send a press release the previous week. There is fierce competition for media coverage and your release may have been lost in a welter of other mail. When phoning up, have an outline idea of what you want to convey. There s no need to hard sell it. Stick to the outline, be helpful and promise to send through extra information if appropriate.
Journalists are often busy and work to tight deadlines.
Visually attractive photographs have a real chance of making it to the newspapers. Emphasise the visual side of any action in your press release. If it s particularly interesting, try sending your press release to TV stations. At the event Ensure that there is someone prepared to speak to any press that arrive. Think of a quote, as a journalist may want you to verbally sum up the event s aims.