ASPI Leader Toolbox
Media, Communications, and Public Relations
Media & Public Relations
Publicity about your projects, programs, and activities is essential to growing and maintaining your SPI. But in order to generate publicity about your SPI, it is useful to understand some of the basics of media and public relations. The links below provide resources and tools about working with the media and promoting your SPI:
Press Releases & Media Advisories
When your SPI has breaking news, is launching a new program, or is holding a new event, you may want to consider issuing a press release or media advisory to attract more attention to your efforts. To learn more about press releases and media advisories, and to see sample press releases, visit the following links:
Websites
Websites are the easiest and most rapid means of communicating information about your SPI to stakeholders, members, and the public. Many of the SPIs with existing websites have had their sites designed, hosted, and maintained at low to no cost to them as a result of the generous support of their fiscal sponsors, members, Board/AC members, and/or volunteers. SPIs without the resources to develop and maintain their own site should contact ASPI at
aspi@mailplus.wisc.edu, as we will work with your SPI Leaders to develop a page for your state that will allow you to share key information about your SPI via the web. The following links provide information about developing your own website:
Brochures
Brochures are another useful means of promoting your SPI. Brochures provide a "snapshot" of your SPI to the public - the goal of a brochure is to briefly explain who you are and what you do in order to generate people's interest in getting involved with your organization. Thus, brochures should be clear, concise, and easy to read; should direct people to other resources, such as a website or contact persons, for more detailed information about your work; and should not include information you will need to frequently update. The links below provide some examples of current SPI brochures and links about creating effective printed materials:
Newsletters
Several SPIs produce newsletters, in both printed and electronic formats, to keep their members and stakeholders informed of their activities and upcoming events. E-newsletters can easily be forwarded to other interested individuals and are good way to spread the reach of your SPI. Below are sample newsletters produced by SPIs and a resource on developing newsletters:
