March 29, 2004

“If you think that good work speaks for itself, think again,” Connect for Kids' Jan Richter told an on-line audience of hundreds. “Every community-based organization could use the funding, potential allies, Board members or fresh volunteers that good publicity can bring. But good publicity doesn’t just happen—it takes careful planning and persistence.”

On March 24, 2004 Richter hosted Connect for Kids’ second interactive Talktime on-line discussion, this time focusing on questions and answers to help those in the non-profit world attract media attention, put together solid marketing and PR campaigns, and generally get the word out about their work and their needs.

Joining us for this second Talktime chat were two media-savvy experts, Tamar Abrams and Gregory Michaelidis. Abrams is a communications consultant who has helped plan communications strategies for such national organizations as Reading is Fundamental, the Afterschool Alliance, the Orphan Foundation of America and the Points of Light Foundation. Michaelidis works as a senior associate at The Hatcher Group, a public relations firm that connects nonprofit organizations with policymakers and the media.

The Connect for Kids team answered 32 questions in the hour-long Talktime chat. Individuals from non-profit organizations in nine states and the District of Columbia brought us their media questions, from how to write a press release, to how many press releases are too many, to how to create a consistent look and feel to marketing materials.

Connect for Kids reminds journalists that we also offer resources for helping cover kids and the issues that affect them. Every Monday, we take a selective look at new articles, data and reports through our Pressroom’s Kid Beat. We also offer Celebrating Families 2004—an online calendar of dates, activities and resources that strengthen families and can serve as “event anchors” for media coverage.

Many thanks to all who participated in the chat. The full transcript of “Media Tips for Non-Profits” is available on-line. (You can also access our first Talktime transcript, “Finding Funding for Non-Profits”.)

Talk Back

If you’ve got comments or questions about this story, we’d like to hear them. Send your response to Susan Phillips (susan@connectforkids.org).