Getting Your Quester Article
Published

News is anything that other people are interested in.  And being newsworthy consists of letting editors and reporters know we are doing something of interest to other people--having an event; telling a story; creating or participating in any occurrence; supporting, opposing, or even merely observing a trend or activity.  Editors and producers have the tremendous challenge of coming up with new stories to fill their pages and air slots--day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.  It isn't always easy to fill all that space.  There fore, we have to become their ally.  Questers achievements--along with our ability to publicize them properly and work cooperatively with media people--will cause local editors to welcome us with open arms.  Not only will we have a very good shot at getting our press release printed (perhaps several times in different sections of the paper), but a reporter might even arrange a more in-depth story.  And that is pure gold for Questers.

Here are some events or situations that often lead almost effortlessly to lots of free publicity:

• Organizing an event open to the public

• Achieving significant recognition for a project in the community

• Opening of an exhibit, contributing to an existing exhibit

• Performing a service to the community

• Being present at--or, better still, involved in--major news events

• Offering workshops, seminars or opportunities to volunteer

• Accomplishments by members of your Quester Chapter or State

• Hosting an Open House

• Issuance of any publication available to the public

Don't expect the media to drop everything and report on you, just so you can get some free publicity.  Remember their goals of reporting news and serving the community; you must blend with that agenda.  Also remember many editors shy away from blatantly promotional pieces.

Present yourself as the kind of person editors want to deal with in any oral or written communication.
Be friendly and approachable, articulate and concise.  Be willing to answer questions, even if you have to research the answers and get back to them.  (Don't be afraid to say you don't know but can find out, and never give an answer you're not sure is accurate.)  Remember if you are running an event, let the "press" in free.
Most of all know the deadlines and publication schedules of the media you deal with, and understand their importance.  Get your stuff in on time and don't try to wheedle a journalist into bending a deadline.

Here is a list of general resources--Dictionaries & Thesaurus, Encyclopedias, Quotations and Writing Help.

• http://www.allwords.com
  Online Dictionary that gives definitions, translates words into five different languages, and lets you listen to word pronunciation.

• http://www.m-w.com/home.htm
  Web site by Merriam-Webster that features a dictionary and thesaurus.

• http://www.rhymer.com/
  WriteExpress Online Rhyming Dictionary capable of searching for end rhymes, last syllable rhymes, double rhymes, beginning rhymes, and first syllable rhymes.

• http://www.britannica.com
  The online version of Encyclopedia Britannica

• http://www.quoteworld.org
  Over 13,000 quotes, in association with Amazon.com

• http://webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/grammar.htm
  A Guide to Grammar and Writing

• http://www.webgrammar.com
  A site devoted entirely to grammar

• http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright
  The U.S. Copyright Office home page

 

Placed on the web: 2008-06-10