Getting Publicity
For Your Astronomy Club
Dave Finley
Public Information Officer
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Socorro, NM
Outline
Why Publicity?
● What to Publicize
● Media to Target
● Press Releases
● Talking to Reporters
● Becoming a Media Resource
●
Who Am I?
~15 Years Journalism
Miami Herald
Science Section
Media Relations For:
Southern Cross Astro Society
Albuquerque Astro Society
PIO For NRAO Since 1992
Press Releases, Press Conferences,
Telescope Dedications, etc.
Photo: M. Hanson, NSF
Why Publicity?
●
Build Membership
●
Gain Support in Community
●
Expand Educational Audience
●
Promote Scientific Literacy
What to Publicize
●
Star Parties
●
Astronomy Day
●
Meeting Lectures
●
What's in the Sky
●
Science Fair Prizes, Judging
●
Anything You Want the Public to Know!
News Media to Target
Newspapers
● TV
● Radio
● Tourist Guides
● Campus Publications
● Other Clubs' Newsletters
● Web Sites
● Targets of Opportunity
●
Press Releases
Tell Your Story
● Journalistic Style
● No Jargon
● Use Quotes
● Timing: Know Deadlines
● Email: Plain Text (ASCII)
●
No Attachments
Hardcopies at Event
● Images: Put on Web
●
Elements of a Release
Letterhead
Release Date
Contact Info
Podunk Astronomical Society
100 Main Street, City State ZIP
www.podunkastro.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2005
CONTACT: Joe Scribe, Secretary
(800) 555-1212
Headline
Lede
(Very Important)
Rest of Body
Podunk Astronomers Hosting “Star Party”
The Podunk Astronomical Society invites the
public to enjoy spectacular telescopic views of
Mars, Jupiter, star clusters, galaxies and
other celestial wonders at City Park on Friday,
November 4, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Admission
is free.
More detail, quote from club president, etc.
End Marker
...
###
Inverted Pyramid Syle
The Important Stuff
(Who What When Where
Why How)
Less Important
Stuff
(Background)
How a News
Story Should
Be Written
Expendable
Stuff
Talking to Reporters
Presume No Background
In Astronomy/Science
There Is No Such Thing
As 'Off the Record'
Talking to Reporters
●
Keep it Simple
●
Spell for Print Media
●
Answer Question You Wanted
●
For TV/Radio: Sound Bites
●
Make Your Quotes Punchy, Interesting
Becoming a Media Resource
You have members who know
more about astronomy than
anyone in your local news media
Your club can provide:
Advice on sky viewing for public
Local Angle for National stories
This Keeps Your Club Visible to Public
Summary
You're doing newsworthy things
Publicity can benefit your club
Media people often hungry for news
Write interesting press releases
You can become local expert for media