This information isn't hard and fast; it is, however, a mishmash of my own experience (admittedly several years old), our experiences here, and some other stuff I know first or second hand. This is merely some advice on how to get press coverage.

Press releases work best between a month and two weeks before the event, unless the media form has a weird deadline.

PSAs -- call your local public radio station for their deadlines. Three weeks was the baseline when I was in radio, but that was a good ten years ago.

Side note: Also send whatever final version of the press release that you use to paganpride-announce@yahoogroups.com.

Use it. Mail it, either email or snail mail, to every area paper you have. It costs you a stamp only, and your returns can be decent; we had a story done in Fort Wayne off our Indianapolis press release that was a really -good- story, very sympathetic and intelligently done. You may think there's no way a paper will cover it, but it costs you thirty cents investment in the US to mail it off, and you might be surprised. Go for alternative papers, as well; if your area has a gay newsweekly, send it there. Also send it to any alternative newsweekly you might have, such as the Chicago _Daily Reader_. A tip: if you send it to the Religions Editor, -also- send it under separate cover to the Community Affairs or Community Calendar.

Don't forget this one. Send the press release to your local morning shows; concentrate on stations whose demographic is either 18-35 (like album or classic rock) or 25-49 (like light rock), but don't forget the college and public radio stations. (If you don't know which local station to deal with, email Dag and I'll do some research for you). Aim for morning show exposure; yes, part of the time you're going to get grinning buffoons making Stevie Nicks jokes, but some of the time you'll get real exposure and press where you need it. A sense of humour is important in this. :)

Hard to get with just a press release, follow it up with phone calls. Shoot for a 'human interest' story; accept that to get coverage here they'll probably have to tape your ritual or Mabon celebration. Smile and have your robe pressed. :) Try to control who they interview; prepare yourself for hard questions, and they probably won't come, but at all times be -ready- for them.

One suggestion that has worked in the past for some events; have security people, clearly outlined as such. (In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pagan Council will do that for us this year.) Have them make sure that all media people come to you or your welcome table, and use them to help control your access. If I can be of any help, email me. Dag, Press Dude, Pagan Pride