Hi there,

I would like to make a suggestion/appeal. How does everyone feel about possibly putting a list together of contacts in the press/media/t.v/newspaper/film etc.

I can only see it as beneficial to people who wish to try and gain publicity about their trip BUT more importantly it can only mean RAISING MORE AWARENESS FOR THEIR CHARITY.....

Mike
p.s. All my personal trip expenses are saved, my fund-raising efforts are all directed toward my charity...please do not see this as an appeal for sponsorship contacts....

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"JTTE, Father and son, 20,000km and 85 days - 2008"

ok, so this kind of piggy backs off the question i started with...

But who do i send my press release to once i have written..I am finding it extremely hard to get, for example, BBC one's specific press release email/fax address...is this because they get their press releases sent from somewhere else...any help would be great....
thanks

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"JTTE, Father and son, 20,000km and 85 days - 2008"

There are probably thousands of people and companies trying to get noticed every day and spamming with their press releases, so unless you have something really innovative and exciting, no one cares.

I've always found that for larger organisations the best thing to do is ring up their switchboard, as the receptionist nicely who might be the best person to send something to, and get that person's work address. Then put your press release in an envelope, put a stamp on it and send it by the post. Make sure it's no more than a couple of pages long, and if it is two pages print them on two seperate sheets of paper, so they can be spread on a desk.

Sending things gets people's attention more than an e-mail which may not make it through their spam filter or a fax which just spools out on the floor. The fact you spent a little bit of money shows you're putting in some investment. And envelopes are so much rarer these days so it draws attention.

For smaller media outlets, specialist magazines etc, then again ring their switchboard and ask to speak to the editor, by name. You can find out the name and number by buying the magazine (well OK going into WHSmiths and looking).

Don't underestimate the power of smaller and local media, get yourself in the local newspaper first, then move on to local radio, BBC local radio and the BBC regional TV. You're much more likely to be picked up nationally if there's a regional editor already interested.

Oh and it's a little known fact that many BBC staff have e-mail addresses which are first name DOT last name @ BBC DOT CO DOT UK. Always worth a laugh.

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alexlebrit-thanks for the great advice there...it seems like a long process but im looking forward to potentially getting some publicity...i dont know maybe it was a poor idea but if contacts email address/fax numbers were somewhere for others to see i guess it would make the process easier for all of us....but i suppose then again where would all the fun and hard work be hay?

thanks again

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"JTTE, Father and son, 20,000km and 85 days - 2008"

Of course - and this is terrible - there's just that tiny, tiny voice in my head that says "What? Give away all my years of hard fought for contacts, all that schmoozing? Let the competition come and hog the limelight? NAH!!!"

Dreadful hey?

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Alex.... hey you can't go giving away my email address just like that!

For what it's worth Alex is correct - start with your local paper then work from there - the local paper guy knows the guy at the radio station who knows a guy at regional tv who knows a guy with a national - it's contacts contacts contacts I'm afraid...

Also... once a journo works out they're on a list somewhere it's amazing how quickly their email address changes - it's no surprise that most of my colleagues on the front line no longer have firstname.lastname at bbc dot co do uk but rather firstname.lastname.02 at and so on.

Shared lists are tricky and wont get you any further... start with things like this and then move on

BBC - Beds Herts and Bucks - Read This - All revved up!

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http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

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AIM: mattcashmore
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They're so sneaky aren't they? First the fix Blue Peter competitions, then they fake the Queen getting huffy and now they change their e-mail addresses - the swine!!!

Just one thing to add in all this, and that would be - get up close and personal. I don't mean you have to sleep with every journalist to get a story (although who knows?) What I mean is, that there's no substitute for schmoozing, for having a real conversation with a real person, either donw the telephone or even better face to face.

To give you an example, a few years back I organised an event taking 25 Minis from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower (called Tower to Tower, how original). Obviously I wanted to publicise this, so the first place I looked was the two Mini publications in the UK, MiniWorld and MiniMagazine. I'd previously met Monty, the editor of MiniWorld in a field in France at a Mini show, we'd chatted for ages about all sorts of stuff, I'd helped out with a bit of minor trahnslating, we'd drunk wine, and so on.

When it came to publicising Tower to Tower, I got on the phone to both mags, and had a chat. Because I knew Monty I went straight through to him, with MiniMagazine I spent ages speaking to a sub-editor or someone. Because I knew Monty he knew I was serious, and even though the print deadline was 24 hours away he said send me a three inch column and I'll make room for it. The following month he rang me to ask "Any more news" and every month up to the events we had something in the mag and on their site. After the event we had a three page picture report. MiniMagazine were great too, but not to that extent. Why? I'm sure it's because I knew Monty.

And all this paid off as well, because I could say we had coverage and show it, BMW got on board too, lent a Mini and helped out too, and that all meant more money raised for Breast Cancer Care.

I'll stop waffling soon, but before I do, I wonder if perhaps better than a list of journos, might be a list of ideas, from personal experience, maybe some examples of press-releases, that kind of thing. I'd be happy to let slip some of my secrets.

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"What? Give away all my years of hard fought for contacts, all that schmoozing? Let the competition come and hog the limelight? NAH!!!"

Dreadful hey?"

Alexlebrit- it is not dreadful at all mate, in my naivety i never relasied how much competition there truly was...it has just made me more hungry for it now...haha also thanks for your story on the mini's,really gave me some perspective. some ideas and further experiences i think would be great...

Mattc- thanks for the great advice mate! I have been following your site a little, seems like your taking off for the sun and sand hay? well enjoy it there, cause there sure as heck aint no sunshine here in the u.k...you heading further south than morrocco?

maybe you guys could have a look at my press release and tell me what you think, would be a great help!!!

Mike Bateman, a recent Outdoor Adventure Honours degree graduate, said, “I know it is an extreme challenge having never ridden a motorcycle before, but I’m confident that in five months I can prepare myself both physically and mentally for this trip.”



The younger of the duo, at age 22, Mike Bateman, will be doing his motorcycle training and practical test in the week starting the 27th August 2007, before flying out in early September to begin the task of honing his enduro riding skills and preparing for the trip under the watchful eye of his recently retired pharmacist father.

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"JTTE, Father and son, 20,000km and 85 days - 2008"