News alert is a service that monitors new content on the web that contains your chosen keywords. Whenever new results are published, you receive an email. It’s important for businesses, allowing them to monitor mentions of their name, products and brands online. You can also use it to keep up with competition, tracking their latest press releases and updates.
If you’re planning to invite local media to your upcoming Lights On Afterschool event, consider sending a media alert (also known as a media advisory) instead of a traditional press release. Media alerts are one-page announcements of an upcoming event intended specifically for journalists, and they work to convince reporters that your story is newsworthy. Check out this sample media alert to get some inspiration.
When preparing your media alert, be sure to include the five Ws: what, when, where, who and why. Describe how the event is relevant to your community and what will be covered. Focus on telling your audience the “story behind the story” – what will the reporter find interesting and exciting?
Don’t forget to include the contact information of one person from your chapter. Reporters follow up on alerts and releases, and they like to be able to reach someone with questions or for more information. Also, provide a link to any photos or video you have available.
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