While there is often a natural hesitation in speaking with journalists and it is wise to be wary if one contacts you for comment (more on that later), your local media outlets can be very helpful when it comes to promoting your chaplaincy service.
Be it a big or unusual fundraiser, introducing a new chaplain to a school, or a special event being coordinated by your chaplain, your local paper, TV or radio station (if you live in an area with one) are often keen to cover a local feel-good story and can help drum up support and awareness.
So here’s what you do.
- Know your pitch! It has to be interesting to more people than your family. The big, unusual, cute, or milestones are usually of interest.
- Talk to your FDM and get the principal’s consent before doing anything else. Then…
- Contact the SU QLD Media and Communications team on 3112 6420 (Casey Seaton), 3112 6435 (Sam Moore), or 3112 6405 (Jennifer Kerr). Or email us at stories@suqld.org.au and tell us what’s happening!
We have relationships with most media outlets (even regionally), so the Media and Communications team are ideally placed to coordinate for you. It’s what we do!
The team can write and send out your press releases, liaise with journalists for interviews and photos, and also help coach you before interviews if you’re feeling nervous (ps: Don’t be!). The media and comms team is here to serve you! - Familiarise yourself with the Media Policy and Media Tips documents. There are more helpful and important guidelines in these documents that will help keep you on message and make sure everyone’s happy with the media outcome.
What do you do when it’s not your idea to talk the media and someone calls you for comment? Simply, don’t comment! You are under no obligation to say anything to a journalist. If this should happen, direct the journalist to contact your friendly Media and Communications team (numbers above) and handball the questions to us! We love a good game of handball! (except for Sam, he’s more of a soccer fan).
By following the steps above and communicating with the Media and Communications team, you can secure more support for your event, which hopefully helps generate more donations for your LCC.