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Revised 8/2016
PR
Collect Local Media Contacts
Collect the following information for each radio
station, TV station, and newspaper that covers
your club’s service area. Use the contacts to get
your events and news covered by local media.
Newspaper:
Address:___________________________
Phone: ____________________________
Publication schedule: __________________
Day and Time Deadlines for Articles: ______
____________________________________
Contact Person: _____________________
Other Info: _________________________
Radio Station:
Address:___________________________
Phone: ____________________________
Lead time for Public Service Announcements:
___________________________________
Contact Person: _____________________
Other Info: _________________________
Television Station:
Address:___________________________
Phone: ____________________________
Lead time for Public Service Announcements:
____________________________________
Contact Person: _____________________
Other Info: _________________________
The most expensive time to buy advertising on the
radio is called “drive time.” This is the three hours as
people are going to work and the three hours when
people are driving home from work. These are the
times when your announcement will be heard by the
greatest audience, but you might have to pay more
for the extra audience. Compare the costs of drive
time to the radio station’s late night (midnight to 6
a.m.) and daytime advertising rates. Consider both
your budget and audience when deciding which time
slot is right for your message.
Tips on Public Service Announcements
Radio stations have time set aside for public
service announcements and sometimes radio
stations will run your announcements as a public
service announcement or PSA. The key to getting
the radio station to agree to run your announce
ment this way is to convince the station manager
that your club performs a public service to the
community. Explain what your club has contributed
to the community in the past, giving specific names
of people in your community who have benefited
from scholarships, fundraisers, or other community
service projects.
Another tactic to try is giving away tickets to club
events on the air. If your club is planning a great
public event or a special community fundraising
meal, ask the radio station to assist in promoting the
event in return for free tickets. If the radio station
gives away tickets to your fundraising event, it
generates publicity for your club and ultimately more
ticket sales.
Many stations also broadcast a calendar of
upcoming community events. This provides a great
opportunity to spread news of your club’s activities
to a large number of radio listeners at no cost.
If your community has cable television, contact your
local cable company about placing an advertisement
or announcement on the local access channel.
Cable television companies are required by law to
provide some form of local access channel, usually
as a scroll or listing of community events. Many
times a cable company will block out certain times
just for free community service announcements.
Couldn’t your Ruritan club take advantage of this
free time on cable television?
Big Media and Big Money
Radio and broadcast television reach thousands
of people, but expect the costs of your advertising
to increase dramatically over newspaper and local
cable television advertising. Radio stations and
broadcast television both base their advertising rates
on how many
thousands
of audience members will
receive your message. Most radio stations (and
some television stations) will write and produce an
announcement or advertisement for you, usually for
an additional cost.
Since costs for radio and broadcast television
advertisements vary from community to community,
the best way to get rate information is to contact the
sales departments of your local media. Remember,
always tell the salesperson about Ruritan. Volunteer
community service organizations sometimes get
preferred advertising rates or even free advertising
during off-peak hours.