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National Horseshoe
Pitchers Association
MEDIA CONTACT

Meet The Press


CHAPTER 2

PUBLICIZING YOUR LEAGUE



Whether your club sponsors one league or several, it is important to publicize starting dates and results in the newspaper. One of the most effective ways of publishing this information is by submitting a press release to the newspaper(s).

Newspaper people look for several criteria before publishing information. A good press release will have some or all of these characteristics:

Informative: something readers don't already know.
Timeliness: received well enough in advance to allow people to take advantage of the information.
Significance: will affect the lives of readers.
Scope: has an impact on the lives of readers.
Interest: can attract and hold public attention, sometimes because of famous participants.
Uniqueness: is unlike other information, or has a stand-out element or two.
Human Interest: is relevant on a personal level to many people because of a home-town or family aspect.
Relevance: topic enhances public understanding of an issue.

(Above criteria from National Association of Broadcasters.)

When writing a press release, remember these guidelines:
  • Include the name of the organization, date, phone number, and contact name at the top of the page.
  • A press should function as an informative sheet on the event, always include the five W's in the lead paragraph: Who, what, when, where and why. Try to limit lead paragraphs to 30 words or less.
  • A press release should read like a newspaper article and be limited to one page if at all possible, double-spaced, and typed, never hand-written.
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread.
  • Type "-30-" or "-End-" at the end of the message.
Tailor your press release to the guidelines of your particular newspaper and don't be wordy. The less work the copy editor has to do, the better your chances of being published. Always remember: who, what, when where and why.

Are you trying to find youth to form a youth league? That information should be a part of your lead paragraph. People may think only "good" horseshoe pitchers are eligible for league play. Give them information on how to easily qualify for your handicap league. Are league teams selected based on handicap?


[CHAPTER 1]     [CHAPTER 3]     [CHAPTER 4]     [Let them Know]