Media pack

The pack contains advice, tips for media interviews and for working with the media, and downloadable templates – for press releases, and events calling notices - to help you get media coverage for your Parenting Fund project.

You can contact the Family and Parenting Institute's press office for any advice on putting together a news story on your Parenting Fund project by emailing press@familyandparenting.org  or telephoning 020 7424 3477.

Getting your Parenting Fund news story across

Here is some advice on how to get the media interested in your Parenting Fund project

• Get to grips with your story - you need to highlight the news angle. (This is what will really make them want to cover the story.) It could be something novel that you are doing or some new findings you have. If you are unsure what the news factor is, think about how you describe what you do to your friends – the most interesting bit of your work.

Your press release

• Make your press release really stand out. Journalists read hundreds a day so yours needs to grab their attention. Keep sentences and paragraphs short and concise – if your press release is too long-winded the journalists will not read it.

• The format for the press release is quite precise and should include what is happening, where it is happening, when, how, who will be attending and why you are doing it.

• We've put together a template press release for you to download.

• You can email or post your press release to your local press. Afterwards, give them a call to ask if they have received it and to ask if they are interested. Don't worry about appearing pushy; they get this kind of thing every day.

Publicising an event

• If you are holding an event and want to invite the press, send them a call notice. Download a template

• It is advisabled to send it at least a week before your event so that they can put it in the diary.

• Include in your call notice any information what will be happening and who will be there to be photographed and/or filmed and when.

• Mid-morning (i.e. 10.30) is the best time for photographers and news crews to attend as they can get the footage ready for the lunchtime news or the next day's paper.

• If a journalist or photographer does attend your event, make sure there is someone to look after them. While you don't want your activities to loose focus on the parents giving the media some initial attention means that they can get done and dusted and everyone can carry on enjoying the occasion.

• Hand them a press release which gives more information about event and project.

Taking photographs

• Take a digital camera with you to the event and take high resolution photographs. If no-one from a local newspaper turns up, then you can send a press release saying what, where, when, who and why along with some quotes from people that were there. Send a couple of the best photographs too, but send them full size, not reduced.

• Try to make your photos as active and colourful as possible.

• Remember, if you do have photographs with children in them, you will need the written permission of their parents or carers.

Download a Word version of this advice