If you’re looking for tips on the best ways to reach Licking County residents through the local media and social media, plan to attend a community workshop on how to get your news out.
The free information session, open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the NEWORK Space at 14 N. Park Place, on Courthouse Square in downtown Newark. Free subs and soda will be provided starting at 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by The Reporting Project at Denison University, in partnership with local media, including The Advocate, Granville Sentinel, Pataskala Standard and WNKO-WHTH radio, the workshop is in response to requests from Licking County residents who attended two community forums focused on local news last fall.
“We’ve heard repeatedly from leaders of local nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, churches and clubs that they want tips about how to prepare news release and who to contact when they have news to share,” said Molly Born, an adviser to The Reporting Project, Denison Journalism instructor and presenter at the workshop.
The workshop will be led by experienced journalists such as Born, a former newspaper and public radio reporter, who will provide general information about local media, offer tips and suggestions, and provide the opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions about best practices.
“We’ll provide examples of effective news releases, the timing of them (not the day before your big event!) and how to deliver them to local media (not in an email under the heading ‘see attached news release’),” said Alan Miller, former editor of The Columbus Dispatch and current journalism instructor at Denison. “We’ll also provide contact information for local media and suggestions on how to follow up after you send your releases.”
Doug Swift, an accomplished digital storyteller and Denison journalism instructor, will talk about the importance of photographs, audio clips and video possibilities. “In the digital world, every story needs a digital element, and at least one of them has to be an original still photograph. All news organizations require a visual element with every story they post.”
“Our goal is to help local organizations help us – the local media – get the word out about your events, your amazing volunteers, new developments, new programs, and the compelling stories about good things going on in this place we all call home,” said Beth Lossing, assistant director of the Journalism program at Denison.
To register for the free event, go to bit.ly/news-help.