[Holiday Club press release]
[title] Read all about it!
Local media love stories about holiday clubs. There’s a strong local angle, a link within the community (church providing a service to children) and it’s lots of fun! And if you prepare a media release before hand, the chances of getting the story published are greatly increased!
To help you get your story in the press, we’ve put together a media release template for you to use to send to your local papers, radio stations etc.
Simply follow these instructions and off you go!
1) Amend the template to make it unique for your event (appropriate dates, name of holiday club, church etc)
2) Email or post the media release FAO News desk (or the actual News Editor if you are able to find out a contact name) two weeks before you would like the story to be printed.
3) Try to follow it up with a phone call a few days later. This will remind and encourage journalists to act on the media release.
4) Invite your local newspapers, television or radio stations along to take photos, film activities and get quotes (you will need to gain parental permission if photos/filming of children take place).
5) Sending a media release to a newspaper after the event is also a good idea. If you choose to do this make sure to include:
- One or two good pictures (as jpegs) from the holiday club. A picture of children having fun/smiling/cheering and one big group picture would do the job.
- Information that a journalist would ask. Where the event was held, an approximate number of children who attended eg ‘more than 50 children attended the…’ example of activities etc
- One or two quotes from the children about how they enjoyed the holiday club.
[header] Click here to download the media release template [downloadable word file]
[header] Click here to view the pre-event media release sample
[header] Click here to view the post-event media release sample
[Media release template]
[put the date here]
[title]
Local children [include ‘and young people’ if the holiday club is open to people over 12 years olds] are set for a week of fun and games with the [name of holiday club/venue/church] holiday club! Based on Scripture Union’s [name of holiday club material] holiday club material the week will be full of games, crafts, drama, music, video presentations and Bible stories [delete as appropriate] as children learn about [the end of this sentence will depend on which holiday club material you are using! To see an example, go to the press release example]
The holiday club runs from [enter times and dates] at [enter venue] and is open to all people aged [enter ages]
Leader of the holiday club, [enter the leader’s names], is excited about the event. ‘[quote from the leader, saying how much they’re looking forward to the holiday club and encouraging people to come along].
Ends
Notes to editors
1)For more information contact [enter the name and contact details of a holiday club leader who is happy to field enquiries]
2)Scripture Union’s [name of holiday club material] holiday club is part of a range of resources, fiction and information books for individuals, and churches providing for their local communities. Scripture Union also works in schools, runs residential holidays, missions and overseas placements, and offers training opportunities.
[header] Click here to view the pre-event media release sample
[header] Click here to view the post-event media release sample
[pre-event media release sample – jpeg image of email]
[30 July]
In the spotlight!
Local children set for an action-packed week at church’s holiday club
Leighton Buzzard’s children and young people are set for a week of fun and games atHockliffeStreetBaptistChurch’s holiday club! Based on Scripture Union’s Showstoppers! holiday club material, the week will be full of creative teaching, games, songs, prayers, Bible reading and creative arts as children learn about God’s great plan for salvation.
The holiday club runs from 9am–1pm from 11–15 August and is open to all people aged 5 to 11.
Leader of the holiday club Adam Petrie is excited about the event. ‘I’m really looking forward to this year’s holiday club. It will be great fun, we’ll learn a lot and it would be fantastic if lots of children come along.’
Notes to editors
1)For more information contact Adam Petrie on 01998 855661
2)Scripture Union’s Showstoppers!holiday club is part of a range of resources, fiction and information books for individuals, and churches providing for their local communities. Scripture Union also works in schools, runs residential holidays, missions and overseas placements, and offers training opportunities.
[post-event media release sample – jpeg image of email]
[20 August]
Curtain up
Leighton’s children get creative at church’s holiday club.
More than 70 local children had fun acting, dancing, singing and painting last week atHockliffeStreetBaptistChurch’s holiday club! The holiday club was based on Scripture Union’s Showstoppers! holiday club material, a programme with a creative arts theme including games, crafts, music, drama and Bible stories!
Leader of the holiday club Adam Petrie was pleased with the way the event went. ‘We had a great week!We learnt about God’s big plan for the world and took part in daily workshops using visual art, drama, photography, music and dance. I’m sure we’ve got lots of buddingartists in Leighton Buzzard!’
Alex Taylor, 9, who goes to BrooklandsMiddle School, said: ‘We played loads of games, sang songs, made stuff… it was brilliant!’
Ends
Notes to editors
1)For more information or pictures contact Adam Petrie on 01998 856161
2)Picture credit: [name of person who took the photos]
3)Scripture Union’s Showstoppers!holiday club is part of a range of resources, fiction and information books for individuals, and churches providing for their local communities. Scripture Union also works in schools, runs residential holidays, missions and overseas placements, and offers training opportunities.