The mainstream media can be a powerful tool to educate the public and rally their support. You should invite your local media outlets to cover your Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week events. Here’s how:

  • Make a list of the media outlets in your community. Include local newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, and blogs.
  • Identify the appropriate contact person at each outlet and find out their email address and phone number. For newspapers, you want the metro editor; for TV and radio stations, you want the news editor.
  • Write a press release for your Awareness Week. You can use the sample below as a template.
  • At the beginning of the week, email your press release to the contact person at each media outlet.
  • Call each media outlet to make sure they received the press release and encourage them to cover your events.

Here’s a sample press release for you to use:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 14, 2016

CONTACT:
NAME, ORGANIZATION
PHONE, EMAIL

YOUR COMMUNITY Takes Stand against Hunger and Homelessness
Local Group Kicks Off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Today, YOUR ORGANIZATION kicked off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, an annual week of action where local volunteers come together to draw attention to poverty in YOUR COMMUNITY. Participants will spend the week holding educational, community service, fundraising, and advocacy events to address these critical issues.

“This is the time of year when we all reflect on our lives, finding gratitude and peace in where and who we are,” said SPOKESPERSON from YOUR GROUP. “But there are so many families that will not be able to come together during the season, torn apart by hunger and homelessness.”

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is co-sponsored nationally by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. The event originated at Villanova University in 1975, and now takes place in nearly 700 communities across the country.

“Hunger and homelessness are epidemics that sadly affect too many members of our community,” said SPOKESPERSON. “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to tackle these issues head on, rally public support, and call for solutions.”

The events planned for the week include:

  • PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION FOR EACH EVENT IN YOUR WEEK
  • MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION

For information about Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, visit http://hhweek.org.

# # #

ADD DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION

media press release