Recruiting for KOHP

Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

Recruiting for KOHP

Main Topics


Earned media basics Earned media toolsTips for working with the media

Earned MediaFree Media coverageValuable!News storiesEditorialsLetters to the EditorPublic Service Announcements


News ReleasesProvides a story to reportersIf well written, paper may print it

exactly as written.Keep adjectives (exciting, valuable,

etc.) in quotes “This important event...,” said Mary

Write in inverted pyramid – most important information first

Keep to 1 page if possibleOur Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

News ReleasesRelease must have news value

If it doesn’t, it will hurt your credibilitySend 3 – 5 days before an event or day of

an announcement Earlier for a weekly paper

Proofread carefully Grammar and spelling mistakes will get

your release ignoredInclude at least one quote


Sample News ReleaseNEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cindy WintersMay 1, 2008 785-296-8150 & [email protected]

Physical Activity Key to Decreasing Arthritis PainWorksite wellness initiative aimed at helping the Kansas worker address chronic diseases

TOPEKA, KS – Although nearly 563,000 adults in Kansas* who have arthritis are painfully aware of their symptoms, many still do not know there is something they can do about it. As part of National Arthritis Awareness Month in May, Kansans who have pain and activity limitations due to arthritis are encouraged to work with their physician to become more physically active. Research has shown that pain and activity limitations can be reduced with 30 minutes a day of physical activity most days of the week.“Being more physically active is probably the single best thing a person with arthritis can do to reduce their pain,” said Roderick Bremby, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “Even with small increments of increased physical activity, a person with arthritis can decrease their pain, increase their flexibility and get a better night’s sleep.” “Thirty minutes a day can seem daunting and overwhelming for a person with arthritis,” said Cindy Winters, KDHE Arthritis Program Manager. “Breaking the half hour of exercise into smaller amounts over the course of the day can still have the same positive impact in reducing pain.”Winters dispels the myth that exercising can cause further joint damage.“When you’re moving through physical activity, blood and other vital nutrients are getting pumped into the cartilage in your joints, keeping you flexible and strengthening the muscles around the joint to protect it,” Winters said.Research continues to bear out the benefits for people to be more physically active, including those persons with arthritis. Studies have shown that a person who is physically active at least one to two times a week will save an average of $250 annually.** Among working-age Kansans, 20% report having doctor-diagnosed arthritis.* In this decade alone, arthritis has cost the state of Kansas $1.1 billion, $700 million in direct medical expenditures and $400 million in lost productivity and premature death.*KDHE is currently in the process of developing a worksite initiative to address not only the impact of arthritis but other chronic diseases in the workplace. Arthritis self-management programs have been proven to reduce medical expenses including insurance premiums and decrease absenteeism because of disease-related complications.

###*2007 Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data**Wang, F. McDonald T., Champagne, L.J. and Edington, D.W. Relationship of body mass index and physical activity to health care cost among employees. JOEM 2004;46:428-36.

mailto:[email protected]

Letters to the Editor

Can be written by anyoneThis is the place for opinionOrganize different people to send

lettersGive them the topic and a few

points to stressCould organize a campaign to send

a different letter weeklyOur Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

Editorials

Written by a newspaper’s editorial board

You can request a meeting with the editorial board to ask them to write about an issue or event

Request must stress why readers would care about the issue

Must prepare and know the facts for a meeting


Guest EditorialsGuest editorials are written by an expert

in a particular areaFind an expert to submit an editorial on

arthritisWho would be an expert in your area?


Public Service Announcement (PSA)

PSAs are free adsGenerally from non-profit or govt. Address a community issue or

public health/safety messageAired whenever station wants

Could be 3 a.m.


Requesting a PSA

Contact radio station community relations, public affairs or program director

Convince him/her of the value of your message

Have PSAs written so you are ready to go when they say yes


Creating a PSA

Length 10, 15, 20 or 30 secondsWrite a PSA like you speak –

conversationallyPSAs need to get attention and

make a point quicklyThink about radio ads that you pay

attention to (probably not many)Read it out-loud and time yourself


Web sites

Are there Web sites locals visit frequently?

Can you post information?Is there a local business that might

support your cause by adding information to their Web site

What are other Web ideas?


Pitching your story

Briefly convince them why this is important Statistics Anecdote - interesting, amusing, or

biographical incident Be enthusiastic/passionate about cause Highlight news value

why readers will care Keep it brief!


When Reporters Call You

Return calls quicklyFind out their deadlineFind out what info. they need and

call them back Take a few minutes to gather your thoughts

OK to say “I don’t know”Don’t try to wing it


Final Thoughts

Most reporters want to get the facts right

“Good News” is often appealingReporters time is limited, respect

thatBeing friendly and polite goes a long

way


Key Points

ConciseFactualTimely



Contact Information:Ginger Park, MSKansas Department of Health & EnvironmentTobacco Use Prevention [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

www.kdheks.gov

Recruiting for KOHP

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