A news alert is an announcement designed to grab the attention of journalists and media professionals. It can be as simple as a one-page event invitation that is sent to reporters, or it can be as involved as a press release distributed via wire services (like the Associated Press).
A well-crafted news alert will answer all of the five W’s: Who, What, Where, When and Why. It will also include a clear point of contact and compelling quotes from key stakeholders to provide context and add credibility. Visual content like video and photos can help enhance the impact of your news alert.
Using news alerts to publicize your client’s afterschool events is an effective way to drive media coverage and reach new audiences. To ensure that your clients’ stories are published in the media, you’ll want to carefully select the recipients of your news alerts. Your news alerts should go to the journalists at local TV stations, newspapers and magazines in your target markets, and to any wire service that may distribute them.
When creating a news alert, it’s important to keep in mind that your audience will be competing with social media and other apps that push breaking news all day long. To avoid information overload, be sure to limit your alerts to a maximum of 1-2 per day from reliable sources like Reuters and BBC News and customize your news feed to avoid irrelevant content.
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