Publicity and media coverage

This guide tells you how you can use your local media - such as local newspapers, television and radio stations - to publicise your event, attract people to it and generate more sponsorship.

Here are a few simple steps to take to ensure that you do everything you can to get the maximum amount of publicity and media coverage. Do also see if you can get an article in your company newsletter or on its website. This will help increase your sponsorship!

Create your promotional materials
If you want to promote your event, it’s a good idea to create posters. You could put posters up at work, in your local shops, pubs, restaurants, schools, libraries, doctors’ surgery or sports or social clubs. Just remember to ask permission first!

Please use the posters provided in your free fundraising pack and personalise them as much as you like. Make sure you follow Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity style guidelines. We can also send you balloons, banners, and any other resources you might need, such as pin badges, T-shirts and collection tins. Contact Fundraising for more materials.

Make a list of media contacts
Think about which local media you’d like to target for coverage. To obtain a list of reporters and news editors in your local area, please contact Communications on 020 7188 9083 or email Communications. They will give you advice on who best to contact, how to give an interview and they can also help arrange any filming in the hospitals, if necessary.

If you intend to approach any national press contacts, please speak to Communications, so they can ensure you’ve got all the information you need and prevent any conflicting approaches to national media.

Write a press release
Before the event
If you are hosting a big event, the most effective way of getting members of the public to come to it, or to invite sponsorship, is to send a press release to your local media. A press release is a detailed written announcement that provides all the important information that you want people to know about an event or challenge. Download a press release template.

To add impact to your press release, it’s a good idea to send it with a photograph. Send a colourful photo which helps to tell the story of the request you are putting to your target audience. Or, invite journalists to take a photo of you on your bike, in a bathtub of baked beans or in whatever you’ll be wearing on the day in advance of the event. Download a photocall template.