Publicity Guide

Photos

Photographers

Organising a Press Release - What makes a good story?

If you are trying to arrange for a local press photographer to attend your event, then the newsdesk (or picture desk if they have one) is a good starting point.

In this case you should be put through to a photographer or picture desk editor/assistant who will take the details of your photocall.

They will rarely make any promises to attend, but will always do their best if you can make this photographic opportunity sound attractive and newsy.

Remember: Reporters are simply looking for a news story which is new and interesting, while photographers want to illustrate the news with a good, visually interesting picture.

Some photos are just right	And others just aren't

How to organise a Photocall:

Local press are "crying out" for good picture opportunities - get them interested in your news and free publicity could easily be the outcome.

All TV stations, regional and local newspapers keep a diary of forthcoming events. Contact the news or picture editor a week in advance and ask them to consider your "news" for the diary.

Also offer to e-mail/fax/post some further information on the event, using the following headings:

EVENT:
DATE:
VENUE:
TIME:
CONTACT:
DETAILS:

Contact them again, a day or two before the event, and politely ask whether a photographer is likely to attend? This also serves to jog memories!

Likely events for photocalls include: new product/service launches, winning awards, opening a new premises, getting celebrity backing, and even award/cheque presentations.

Try and make the latter as interesting as possible.

For example, giant cheque presentations are mind numbingly boring, unless the cheque happens to be from say the National Farmers Union and is drawn on the side of a cow!

* If they can't spare anyone, book your own photographer and send them the picture you had in mind anyway. Busy newspapers with shoestring budgets are always happy to receive material - and the value of the publicity you can achieve will far outweigh the fee of a local photographer. Also, remember to provide a brief caption with the picture!

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