Use our sample media alerts (also known as media/news advisories) to inform reporters about your upcoming Lights On Afterschool event and convince them that it's a genuine news story worthy of coverage.
Media alerts are one-page announcements of an upcoming event intended for journalists, not the public. Send your alert to all journalists in your media market who might be interested in covering your event, and don't forget wire services (like the Associated Press), which frequently produce "daybooks" of newsworthy events. Find some inspiration from this media alert from a local Lights On Afterschool event.
Media Advisory
[DATE]
Contact: [name, email, and phone number]
[Students will display their art and do science experiments], [Mayor Doe will speak], and families will enjoy [a light dinner] when the [program name] afterschool program holds a Lights On Afterschool rally on [date] at [time]. The event will be one of thousands taking place across the country this month as part of Lights On Afterschool, the nationwide rally for afterschool programs organized each year by the Afterschool Alliance. This year, Lights On Afterschool is highlighting the vital work that afterschool programs do to support students and families. The October [#] rally is open to the media.
In the United States today, for every child in an afterschool program, four more are waiting to get in. Speakers at the [city/town] rally will call for expanding afterschool opportunities so every child who needs a program has access to one. They will discuss the benefits of afterschool programs, which include keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn, and giving working parents peace of mind that their child is supervised after the school day ends. The event, which will include students, parents, educators, and other afterschool supporters, will spotlight the range of programming available at the [name of program]. It will be:
The [program] serves [#] students at [#] sites, providing homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring, and classes and clubs in sports, recreation, mathematics, chess, and dozens of other subjects. It is a collaboration between the school system and [list partners].
This is the 25th year of Lights On Afterschool, which is expected to include 8,000 events involving a million people. Again this year, the Empire State Building will be lit in yellow and blue on the evening of October 24 as part of the national rally.
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