I think everyone needs to realize that NASA isn't a television production company. They are around to explore the outer reaches of space. We as the FIRST community need to come up with some creative way to get the television media involved. We've already had some great successes in this realm. Tech TV, Discovery, many national news sources. We just need to keep up with what FIRST has already done and get local sources involved now. Do something with your teams that will catch their attention. FIRST can only do so much. That's why Dean gave us this assignment.
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Originally Posted by STORMCENTRE
Start by promoting FIRST to all of you're local and regional media, assignment editors, news directors, newspapers and radio stations and in press releases and information make it very clear what they will see and hear, I am just a camera guy in the news media in Toronto and I can tell you that it is one hell of a selling job to get them interested in "anything" these days.
so what? when? why? visuals and sound? and story angles!!! you all know why FIRST is important and all about it now put that to you're local and regional media in context with a local issue, perhaps cuts to education or school funding are in the news? crime involving young people are in the news? this is a great counter balance to those stories, hit them with press releases ahead of time and a day before the regionals/events and hit them the day of the events and don't get you're hopes up....I go home dissapointed 9 out of 10 days because no matter what story idea I come up with...it usually gets shot down and all you can do is keep trying.
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Storm is absolutely correct. I tried very hard to get local media to the Buckeye regional and all I got was one of the local newspapers. Given, I could have tried harder and done some things differently, but there is no guarantees when it comes to the media. That is, unless you kill someone or win a championship. Even then it's hard.
Persistence is key. Be the squeaky door, but don't ruin your changes by becoming a pain. It's a fine line.
Create value for your story. Show the media why they should cover your story. Tell them your FIRST stories. These are compelling and people need to know what FIRST is doing to changes the lives of many students. They also need to know how these kids are going to change the future. IN our town, they need to know how we can turn our economies around.
Let's come up with some constructive answers to the question of how to get the media involved. No more blaming FIRST or NASA.