Are you ready to take your media outreach to the next level?  Consider an op/ed strategy or placing radio PSAs to maximize your media coverage around Lights On Afterschool. 

Getting on the Op/Ed Page 

1. Editorial Board Outreach:  Approach the editorial boards of local papers to see if they will write an editorial on afterschool for their op/ed page around Lights On Afterschool day. 

• Send a pitch letter to the editorial page editor of the largest local newspaper about 6 weeks before your event, aimed at arranging an editorial board meeting. The one-page letter should briefly describe why the issue is important to the newspaper’s readers, list the afterschool participants you would bring to the proposed meeting (no more than four), and specifically request a meeting in a given date range.  Be sure to have a prep meeting with your team in advance.

• Send an editorial memorandum to other newspapers in the area about 4 weeks before the evevnt.  The two- to three-page memorandum, to be distributed to editorial writers, shoud make the case for an editorial about afterschool’s importance to the community and call for more funding from local, state and federal governments, as well as from the businesses and foundations, and others;

2. Submit your own Opinion article (or guest editorial) to the major local newspaper or to several community papers 2 weeks before your event.

3. Submit pre- and post-event letters-to-the-editor for local newspaper(s).  Aim to send the pre-event letters 1 week before your event, and the post-event letter one day after the event, responding to their coverage, or lack of coverage, of Lights On Afterschool.

Placing Radio PSAs: Ask local radio stations to read a 60-second public service announcement (PSA) to promote Lights On Afterschool.  It should be written so that it can be read by stations' on-air talent, and include information on your local event, and a simple url for website where listeners can get  more information. Use our Sample Script, and aim to get the PSAs out at least 6 weeks before the event.