How do I reach out to local media and press?

Why reach out to hyper-local press?

Spreading the word about your coBuild project can sometimes take a lot of time and effort. When hyper-local news outlets mention or link to your project page, they do all the work for you. Small media outlets are also hungry for content. Presenting them with a fully baked story makes it more likely for them to publicize your project.

When is the best time to reach out? What should I say?

The best times to send press releases are:

• When your coBuild project launches – You’ve put together an eye-catching project page with a powerful vision. Show it off! Click here for a launch release template. It’s best to sync a project launch with simultaneous press coverage.

• When community member comments result in a change – If Jane suggested more bike lanes, and you replied that you’ll be able to factor that into the plan, that’s a community outreach success! Show it off with another blast to local media. Click here for an outreach success template.

• When your project reaches a milestone/next phase/ends – Look at all of the comments you collected from the community! Celebrate project completion! This is the best time to thank people and tell them what’s next. Click here for a project milestone template.

Where do I send press releases?

Hyper-local media! We don’t mean CNN. We’re talking about online and print publications for your local community (e.g., The Jamaica Plain Gazette, The Newton Tab).

How do I send them?

1. Start with personal connections at local media if you have them.
2. A short, casual email with the release attached will do the trick.
3. After contacts, find the email addresses of local media (usually something like tips@[publication name] or news@[publication name].
4. If you don’t see a mention of the project or story within a few days, reply to the email you sent with another tidbit of information or an offer to provide more details.