Media Publicity

If you have been asked to contact the media to publicise your Lotterywest grant, you are likely to find that the local media will be interested in a local grant story. You can boost your chances of getting good publicity, by providing them with information in a way that they can easily use.

Contacting Your Local Media

Work out which news media (newspaper, radio and television) covers your area.

Call them and ask to speak to the editor/ news editor or a journalist to introduce yourself and ask whether they might be interested in your story. You can also check details like which days are best for them to come out and cover events.

They might tell you that they won't be able to attend your presentation but if you submit a good quality photograph with a media release, they may be able to include your story anyway.

Preparing a Media Release

Whether you are talking about an event such as a local festival, a project or simply the receipt of a Lotterywest grant, it's useful to be able to provide a media release.

The media release should summarise the main points with the most important information first. The release should include:

• The main facts relating to the Lotterywest grant you have received such as the amount of the grant and what the grant will be used for
• Key dates and times (for example if the grant relates to an event)
• A description of the role of your organisation
• What difference the grant will make to you
• A quotation from a representative of your organisation relating to the grant and the work of your organisation
• The name and telephone number of a contact in your organisation for media enquiries
• Any 'photo opportunity' ideas you have (you might like to stage an event with photo opportunities as these have more impact and are much more likely to be covered by a local newspaper)

Your release should:

• Have the date and your organisation's name at the top of your release
• Be typed
• Have 1.5 or double line spacing and wide margins so there's room for the journalist to add their notes
• Use only one side of the paper
• Be brief, preferably one page

Mail, fax or email the media release for the attention of the News Editor (newspapers and radio) or the Chief of Staff (TV stations) or, if you have already spoken to a journalist on the phone, you should send it directly to him/her. If you have a high-resolution photograph available, you can send that as an email attachment.

Follow up your release with a telephone call, to make sure it has been received and to check whether there is any other information the journalist might need. If they tell you at this stage that they won't be able to attend your event/presentation you can ask them if they would like to visit your project to get a photo at a later time.

• View Sample Media Release
• Need more help?

If you require further assistance, please conact corporate communications@lotterywest.wa.gov.au