A news alert (also called a media advisory) is an announcement of a future event and is written specifically for journalists. Media alerts help convince reporters that a newsworthy event is happening and that it’s worth their time to cover.
A media alert can be in narrative form or a list of bullet points. It should answer the questions: Who, What, When, Where and Why. It should also include contact information for someone at the organization to interview or get more information.
The first thing a reader sees when they open up a news alert is the headline, so it’s important to grab and hold their attention. Consider creating a catchy, eye-catching headline that will stand out against the thousands of other news advisories or press releases that are sent out every day. A catchy headline will encourage a reporter to keep reading, and will help your story make it into their coverage.
If there are any photo opportunities at the event, be sure to mention them in the media alert. This will draw the interest of photo editors and reporters, as well as the public. If a local newsmaker is attending the event, be sure to highlight this in the media alert. It’s also important to provide contact information for someone at your chapter that reporters can talk to if they have any additional questions or want to learn more about the event.
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