This is the kind of basic misunderstanding literacy programs have to correct. People need to learn about the size and impact of our problems with literacy, and we need to use all the resources at our disposal to teach them. Your visibility as Miss America has provided literacy with a very special platform. If it touches them personally, they'll get involved. Of course, if you DO have someone who's well-known, it helps a lot.
Newspapers have the clearest stake in literacy.
Even on TV, a lot of commercials have to be read. But the most important thing to point out to all the media is that public service announcements for literacy make for good community relations, and good community relations boost ratings. I was in Salt Lake City recently, for a literacy event and parade. All along the parade route people were holding up signs saluting a local TV station that's been making a real effort to do a lot of educational programming. I heard so many wonderful stories that it's hard to pick just a few.