am a news camera-operator in Toronto Ontario Canada and a couple of things came to mind when reading this threat about media coverage.

First, I would start by doing research and getting the accurate contact information on all of you're local newspapers, TV stations, radio stations in you're area, in additon the big networks and specialty channels and the wire services such as CP AP reuters etc AND news release services, we have canada newswire up here and there are many others.

Don't think you're small local community paper is too small, you would be surprised how many people and people who run small businesses in the communities read those papers (potential sponsors?).

Now the things that come to mind for writing a press release to help make sure it actually gets read...

Keep is simple: Believe me I work in news and well to keep this post somewhat "graciously professional" lets just say it's NOT always people of the caliber of FIRST who work on the assignment desks.

so keep it simple, bold, easy to read and understand.

Priorities I would make sure are on the press release are:

WHAT: a brief description of what FIRST is....not just about the robot
WHEN: exact times of you're event
WHERE: exact and accurate location of the venue
CONTACT: a phone and email contact of someone a reporter can call anytime on or before the event

When to send you're press releases? well in advance of the events, in advance of events and the day before the event and my reasoning for that is there are many people working assignment desks and if one person doesn't care maybe on a different day someone else will tweak to this story and say "hey let's check this out", you never know so you want to "gently" keep reminding them that there is a very interesting story to be covered here.

Agenda stories:

At least here in Toronto the media seem to be obsessed with agenda stories these days, so it's good to promote and strongly emphasize all aspects of FIRST not just the robot.

For example I was the camera-guy assigned to cover the GTR at the Hershey centre, I had no idea what it was all about, I had heard about robotics competitons a few years ago but thats about it.

So I just go there like every other event with no clue other than a robotics competition and the students built the robots.....

If I knew what I know now about what this all is about I sure would have asked different questions when doing clips.

You never know what the agenda is though...we don't half the time believe me...so you want to point out to prospective news organizations some highlights.

For example, when I entered the Hershy centre I was told I had to wear safety glasses, being media I though yea...ok..and then quickly I noticed "EVERYONE" had them on...everyone and all the time, I guess I'm going to have to learn to shoot video through the glasses and in about 20 minutes I got used to it and it didn't feel awkward, BUT what went through my mind was here are hundreds of students to take WORKPLACE SAFETY alot more seriously than many workplaces including then news industry. -THERE IS YOU'RE STORY ANGLE.

I started by shooting as much video in the pits as I could, some interview clips and shots of teams working on the robots and wide shots of the crowds....so I was walking all through the pits looking for stuff that would look "visual" and as I left for the field a thought went through my mind, "I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE SWEAR WORD" the whole hour in was in the puts...not one! I was thinking....theres a story idea here

so while our newspapers and TV news headlines were full of crime stories about youth crime and and gang violence etc etc....here was a large group making something of their lives. -THERE IS YOU'RE STORY ANGLE.

While the bad will always make the news the trend of doing more with news and all these sidebar stories means there is more chances to counter the bad with some good and hit the local and national media with this story idea about first not only around competitions but when big bad stories are front and centre in the news....

Here is what I came away with from covering the GTR at Hershy centre:

SAFETY FIRST...in practice...amazing eh?!
everyone working together not against each other
clean language....really noticable

Then of course there is the tech side to it, from the idea to the design/drafting to the building....the technical knowledge just blows me away and believe me I wish we had more people with that work ethic and knowldge in the business I am in, I have since read up on FIRST and found this site and really impressive and fun and ADDICTIVE!

Being a severe weather cameraguy as well maybe if the next game involves and waterproof robot I can steal some ideas for building a waterproof robot for covering severe weather

mark