This program uses graphics and music to punctuate techniques used in planning for a media campaign. Contacting the Media shows viewers different methods and strategies for contacting the mainstream media. The program does this by speaking with journalists who share their insights and experiences in dealing with community groups and organizations. While this program presents different methods of contacting the media , it emphasizes the importance of getting to know journalists as humans. The first few minutes of the program offers advice from journalists on this point.
News releases are the most common method of contacting journalists.
The program goes into detail on what format works best and on the importance of timing when sending news releases. Tips, such as sending news releases or faxes to the right person or section head or through the internet are suggested. In this program viewers find out how organizations use the different types of community media to convey their message. By speaking with the editor and the contributors of the Glebe Report , a neighborhood paper, viewers see the development of a paper from its initial stages to the printed copy. Viewers get a good sense of the community from this paper as well as the issues important to its readers.