First things first

Update your store’s website with the latest information regarding your affordability programs. Make sure this information is also posted as fact sheets in PDF format.

Leverage campus resources

Ask college or university relations staff for assistance in developing your story and planning media relations. These staff members have valuable insights on how to plan and execute communications activities. They also have relationships with local reporters.

Use our template

The NACS press release template will help to create the story you want to tell. Focus on one or two key messages and then modify the release to meet your needs. Remember to keep it simple and avoid using industry jargon.

Prepare your pitch

Use your key messages to develop a short pitch you can use in an email or phone call to local media outlets. Also, enclose the news release with your email.

Identify your target media outlets

List the newspapers, TV and radio stations in your area that would be appropriate to contact. Research each outlet to obtain the names of reporters that cover higher education and local business. Your college or university relations department should be able to help with this, however if you need additional help in identifying and contacting local reporters, please contact govrelations@nacs.org for assistance.

Make the pitch

Make your pitch by email or phone. Start with a question or an interesting fact. 

Follow up

Following up is often the key to securing media coverage. Wait several days after you've sent the information, then follow up with a telephone call.

Plan social media

Use your key messages from the news release to develop social media messages and posts.