217 Doing Dave's Homework (Can you help the rest of us)

[feliks_rosenber]

Send written copy to every paper, or just call them up directly, send video in to TV, or get them to come to the event beforehand. The PR our team has gotten has honestly been mostly due to luck and a solid unique theme. Should we win something news worthy I would like to spread the word.

Winning awards does help you get attention.
However, you can get it even before the events take place.

First start off with assigning team members to do the PR job.
My team has about 5 students whose task is mainly to spread the word about our team and FIRST , do the PR work and presentations.
You must have that sense of entrepreneurship when you are dealing with that, because I find no difference between a FIRST team and a startup company.

You must have people who would do the promotion of the team just as if you would need them to be there if you were in a high-tech company.

I'll give an example.
We had coverage both on Channel 3 and Channel 2 of the Israeli Television.
How did we manage to do that ?

At first we wrote a letter to the Channel 3 inviting them to come and do a report about a group of high schoolers who are working hard on a robot for an international competition.

Phone calls came in and that evolved into media attention involving several channels and this is how it all basically began.

After the competition, we got coverage from Channel 2 which is the most watched Israeli Channel.
Certainly our winning of 2 awards at the regional came in handy in that case.

BTW, here's the link to it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3NZ9u8X26c
The TV debut

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqi-r-FFz8Q
Channel 2



Just a small correction, I think you meant "Dean's Homework"...