Public Relations 

How do I promote my Club’s project?

Do any members have skills or experience in PR to help with our 50th Anniversary project?  Queue here in front of Leo

Including a public relations component in your project plan will help ensure your club’s projects and events get the attention and support they deserve. The following ideas can help you create a successful campaign.

       Know your local media

       More ideas for promoting Rotary

There are many ways to promote Rotary. You can hold a special event, start a Facebook page, or place a billboard ad.

    You could also:

    • Advertise on cable and public access TV
    • Create a public service announcement
    • Write op-eds and letters to the editor
    • Distribute club brochures, media kits, and fact     sheets
    • Post on your club website and social media     outlets, including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more

    What do I do next?

    It is exciting to see your club mentioned in the newspaper or see Rotary featured on a billboard. Keep track of your public relations efforts by watching for Rotary-related news clippings in the papers you have contacted. Remember to send a thank you note to those who helped you along the way.

    Before sending stories to a journalist, get to know your audience. Read your local newspaper, listen to the evening news, and follow Facebook and Twitter to identify where a Rotary story might fit. Consider inviting a local journalist to speak to your club about how to work with the media or invite them to join

    a service project so they can see firsthand how your club is improving your community. You could also: 

    •  Develop a media list and keep it current.
    • Get to know local journalists by inviting them to learn more about Rotary, your club, or a specific project.
    Contact the media with newsworthy story ideas, being sure to:
    • Know your story and anticipate questions.
    • Send background materials immediately following contact.
    • Be persuasive, persistent, and friendly, but not aggressive.
    • Write a press release that journalists want to read
    • Once you’ve developed a relationship with your local reporter, help them remember you through regular contact. Share news about your club projects, fundraising events, or the arrival of Youth Exchange students with a press release.
    You should:
    • Develop your “news hook,” a persuasive reason for the news media to pursue a story
    • Include the five‘W’s in the opening paragraph of your press release: who, what, where, when, and why
    • Keep it concise; limit the press release to one page and paste into the body of your email rather than sending it as an attachment
    • Decide who will respond to media inquiries and include their contact information
    • Include visuals when you send to TV stations