Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education

An advocacy group of Wisconsin Music Educators Assoication

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Teachers
    • Research Beyond Music for Art’s Sake
    • Why Music Education?
    • Revenue Caps Talking Points
    • Wisconsin Fine Arts Graduation
    • Practical Guidelines for Music Advocates
    • Involve Parents & Community Members
    • Notable Quotes for Programs, Letters, Public Relations
    • Basic Advocacy Guidelines for Teachers
    • Media Relations Tips
    • Preparing for a Media Interview
    • Press Release Template
    • Speaking the Right Language
    • Legislation Interaction Guide
    • Advocacy Links
  • Administrators
    • Revenue Caps Talking Points
    • Why Music Education?
    • Research Beyond Music for Art’s Sake
    • Wisconsin Fine Arts Graduation
    • Practical Guidelines for Music Advocates
    • Notable Quotes for Programs, Letters, Public Relations
    • Speaking the Right Language
    • Legislation Interaction Guide
    • Advocacy Links
  • Parents & Community
    • Why Music Education?
    • Research Beyond Music for Art’s Sake
    • Revenue Caps Talking Points
    • Practical Guidelines for Music Advocates
    • Notable Quotes for Programs, Letters, Public Relations
    • Basic Advocacy Guidelines for Parents
    • Media Relations Tips
    • Preparing for a Media Interview
    • Press Release Template
    • Speaking the Right Language
    • Legislation Interaction Guide
    • Advocacy Links
  • Featured Resources

Media Relations Tips

 

Media Relations

  • Media relations is a low-cost, highly credible way to inform the community about who you are and what you do. There are numerous ways to get the news media’s attention, including:
    • News releases
    • Pitch letters
    • Letters to the editor, etc.
  • No matter what method you use to contact the media, always make sure the information you are presenting is newsworthy to reporters, editors and their readers, listeners and viewers. Be succinct in presenting information through all verbal and written communications.
  • News is: Timely, New, Informative, Educational, Significant, Unique, Interesting

 

Tips for Building a Positive Media Relationship

  • Familiarize yourself with the media outlet (i.e., read the newspaper in which you plan to send a news release). Your relationship with the media is a two-way street – it’s as important for you to understand the media as it is for the media to understand you.
  • Make sure that you are sending the right information to the right person. Call the general phone number and ask who is the most appropriate person to receive your information (i.e. often there is a “beat” that reporters follow and usually someone is assigned to school/educational news).
  • Once the appropriate media contact is identified, call and ask how they prefer to be informed of your news items (i.e., email, phone, fax, etc.)
  • Always begin the conversation by stating who you are, why you are calling – in words, not sentences, and ALWAYS ask if they are under deadline. For example:
    Hi____, This is _____ calling from _____school in regard to ______(news item).
    Do you have a minute or is this not a good time?
    If the answer is, “No – this isn’t a good time,” respectfully let them go. DO NOT go into a pitch about why you are contacting them. However, politely ask if there is a time you can call back.
  • Follow up with your media contact after sending them information to confirm receipt, unless they have requested otherwise.

Ideas for Gaining Media Exposure

  • Guest Articles
  • Student Features
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Event Photos
  • Community Calendars
  • Student Trips/Performance News

Tapping into Parent/Student Resources

  • Recruit a parent (i.e., public relations professional) to help with your media relations. Often, they are looking for ways to show support.
  • Draw upon students to help with media relations, such as someone on the yearbook staff, a communications or arts student. They can lend a hand while gaining valuable experience.

Speaking the Right Language

Develop a vocabulary sheet of supportive language and use this terminology in all written and verbal communications, including correspondence with the media. It will help to position your program in a positive light. Here is a vocabulary sheet sample:

TraditionalProgressive
LessonsSmall group/ensemble learning
ActivitiesCoursework
ProgramClassroom(s)/Curriculum
Play musicStudy music
Co- OR extra-curricularAcademic/curricular
CoreWell Rounded
Contest or concertAssessment
Knows how to play instrumentTechnique
Pieces or songsCurriculum
Fun songs/Popular music National and/or State Standards
Coach/Conductor/DirectorTeacher/Educator
CompetitiveCollaborative
Teacher-centeredStudent-centered
Ratings or gradesPerformance outcomes
Performing ensemble as teamPerforming ensemble as class
Working for money/grades/ratings/extrinsic motivationIntrinsic motivation
Only presenting pieces that audience likesEnjoyment through knowledge
Prodigy or gifted and talentedGrowth mindset and determination
Knows how to play instrument/singDemonstrates musical understanding
Makes them feel goodInvolves cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning
Grades and pleasing teacher/extra-musical goalsWorking toward personal intrinsic long-term musical goals
Rote learning/literacy emphasis onlyCreative work/student composers included
“My” ensemble/kids/classroom“The” ensemble/kids/classroom

Quotes, Quotes, Quotes…

  • In news releases and other materials, quotes can provide insight and support for your information. Parents, Principals, Superintendents are great for quotes.
  • Do not give broad general statements. Give the facts – names, places and dates.
  • A summary sentence can be very useful as a quote.
  • Remember figures. Numbers and percentages can help legitimize a story.
  • Message should be clear and concise – not “wordy.”
  • When “ghost-writing” a quote for someone else, always make sure they approve it before sending it to the media in your materials.
  • When talking with the media, remember NOTHING IS OFF THE RECORD!

WAME on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.

Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error

Error: An access token is required to request this resource.
Type: OAuthException
Solution: See here for how to solve this error

WMEA

Wisconsin Advocates
for Music Education
is a program of
Wisconsin Music
Educators Association

OUR ADDRESS

WMEA
Wisconsin Center
for Music Education

1005 Quinn Drive
Waunakee, WI
53597

PHONE

608-850-3566
800-589-9762

Business Hours:
M-F 8am-4:30pm

QUICK LINKS

  • WMEA
  • Donate

FACEBOOK – JOIN US

  • WAME
  • WMEA

OUR PARTNERS

  • Wisconsin School Music Association
  • Wisconsin Foundation for School Music

Copyright © 2019 · Wisconsin Music Educators Association - a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.