Help Your Cause Through Local Media

By: J.A.J Aaronson - Updated: 7 Feb 2018 | *Discuss

 

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The world of fundraising is a competitive one. There are thousands of causes and organisations all vying for the attention of the public, and of potential donors. If you are to run a successful fundraising campaign, you need to make your cause stand out from the crowd.

Local media is often an effective means by which this can be achieved. National advertising or PR campaigns are beyond the reach of most charities – but almost everyone can leverage their local media to some extent.

So what techniques can you use to help get the most from the media?

PR is king

To begin with, you have to have a gripping story. Local media thrives on drama and local interest; with a combination of these two you have a recipe for success. Consider ways that you can get local people involved. For example, could a member of the local community take part in a sponsored event? Or could you organise a gathering for interested local people?

A great press release is also vitally important. This should be as snappy as possible, concentrating on the key elements of the charity and your fundraising activities. Professional PRs ‘frontload’ their press releases. This means that the important information, and the bits that will pique the interest of the reader, are given early on. General information about the charity is then provided later.

Find a figurehead

Large charities will often have existing relationships with celebrity patrons who may be willing to talk to local press for you. You should speak to the charity in question for more information.

It is worth remembering, though, that the spokesperson need not be famous. The press will often cover a local person with an interesting story to tell even if they do not already have a high profile.

Consider advertising

You may also wish to think about approaching your local newspaper and enquiring about ‘advertorial’. This is a hybrid of conventional coverage and advertising, and can be a better solution than straightforward ads. Advertorial helps to encourage a sense of trust amongst readers that might not be achieved through conventional advertising.

Throughout this process you should remember to keep an eye on costs. Advertising and PR can be expensive – so try to prioritise, and make sure that you only spend what is necessary to boost donations and raise awareness.

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