Nongovernment school staff, parents, and alumni People who work for nongovernment schools, have children who attend such schools, or who are themselves graduates of such schools are good possibilities for membership in your educational choice coalition. Ask principals and board members if they would consider supporting an educational choice effort that was well-researched and professionally conducted. Radio talk shows are a good way to reach a large audience with news of your effort. Try to arrange for members of your group to call popular programs and speak on school reform issues, including the educational choice alternative. In addition, assemble a list of reporters, editors, and broadcast journalists in your state who should be informed of your effort.
Most states have press associations that publish annual directories of newspapers.
These associations also provide mailing labels for all of the newspapers in the state. Another source of media contacts is Working Press of the Nation , a multi-volume reference book available at larger libraries. For the other papers, it will suffice to send your news releases directly to the editor's attention. Your credibility will be boosted if you can find academics in your state who endorse the educational choice concept and are willing to help write or edit position papers, legislation, news releases, etc. Nongovernment institutions of higher learning should be contacted first, as they will be more likely to house academics who sympathize with educational choice.