EBD #12.18

2007-2008

TO: ALA Executive Board

RE:Fourth quarter 2007 Media Relations Activities Report

ACTION REQUESTED/INFORMATION/REPORT:

Information Item – No Action Required

ACTION REQUESTED BY:

Cathleen Bourdon, Associate Executive Director, Communications and Member Relations

CONTACT PERSONS:

Mark Gould, Director, Public Information Office, 312-280-5042,

Macey Morales, Media Relations Manager, 312-280-4393, ;

DRAFT OF MOTION:

NA

DATE: December 6, 2007

BACKGROUND:

Media relation’s activities for the past quarter (October - mid December) have focused in several main areas:

  • Banned Books Week/Book Challenges
  • Teen Read Week
  • American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference
  • Library Card Sign-up Month
  • Harry Potter / Dumbledore

Since our last report to the Executive Board, the American Library Association’s (ALA) clipping service (based on the top 150 newspapers by circulation) and online news scans returned more than 578 articles including mentions of the ALA, representing a circulation of more than 41,968,535 million, or more than 104,921,337.5 million impressions (impressions are calculated by the total sum of circulation multiplied by 2.5). Online readership included 412,517,733 visitors per month (VPM). Please note that VPM is defined as the numbers of visitors the site receives, and may not reflect how many may have viewed ALA materials. The overall total of ALA media coverage circulation is more than 325 million, resulting in an impression rate of more than 813 million.

According to the Newspaper Association of America, there are more than 1,400 daily newspapers and 6,700 weekly newspapers in the United States, so the following list of placements should be viewed as a snapshot of coverage achieved by the ALA.

Summary

The Public Information Office (PIO) media relation’s activities focused on Banned Books Week/Book Challenges, Teen Read Week, and campaign messaging.

This year marked the 26th anniversary of Banned Books Week (September 29 – October 6), and ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received substantial local and national coverage. Hillel Italie of the AP wrote an article on Banned Books Week (BBW) entitled, “Book on Male Penguins Tops 'Challenge' List.” The article was picked up by more than 90 media organizations and generated television coverage in several markets. OIF also participated in a series of newspaper and talk radio interviews with national media outlets. Highlights included NPR interviews in Baltimore and Cincinnati, and interviews with the Sacramento Bee and The Book Standard.

PIO worked closely with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, Tribune McCormick Freedom Museum and the Newberry Library to secure media coverage for a Chicago BBW kick off event Local coverage included calendar mentions in MetroMix Chicago, TimeOut Chicago and WMAQ NBC 5. Other local opportunities included in studio interviews with WTTW ’s (PBS affiliate) Chicago Tonight and CAN TV; interviews with NBC 5 and Fox 32; and a radio interview with WBBM radio.

The BBW Web press kit served as the first attempt by PIO to add an electronic video clip to a Web press kit. For the first time-ever reporters, members and staff were able to view an entire television program devoted to BBW and the BBW Read Out! event.

Teen Read Week (TRW) also had many successes. This year marked the 10th Anniversary of TRW, October 14 – 20, 2007, and schools and libraries across the country hosted a variety of special programs and events to encourage teens to read for “the fun of it.”

The PIO worked closely with staff and members of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) to secure media coverage that promoted key messaging regarding the importance of teen literacy, and the important role libraries and YA librarians play in encouraging teens to read.

Teen Read Week 2007, “LOL @your library,” exceeded last year’s coverage with multiple Web, print, radio and television placements resulting in a circulation rate of more than 112 million, and an impression rate (circulation rate x 2.5 to reflect other readers, listeners and viewers) of more than 281 million people.

YALSA President Paula Brehm-Heeger, participated in 20 radio interviews including Radio Disney, NPR’s The Book Guys, and a variety of other talk radio stations across the country. More than 248 radio stations aired Brehm-Heeger TRW interviews reaching 2.4 million listeners.

More than 800 blog postings that mentioned TRW were identified, and Brehm-Heeger received a considerable amount of Web coverage, after participating in a series of TRW interviews with reporters that produce content for About.Com, Fact Monster.com, and InfoPlease.com.

YALSA members were extremely active reaching out to local media to promote TRW. Two YA librarians from New Jersey were able to push their way to the front of the crowd that surrounded ABC Network’s Good Morning America weatherman Sam Champion. With a homemade sign in hand, the two mentioned YALSA, TRW and encouraged teens to visit the library. The segment reached 7.6 million viewers, and has a publicity value of $34,000. Also, PIO’s media tracking service found 27 examples of TV news coverage that mentioned TRW.

Other noteworthy member interviews included an in-studio opportunity with Chicago’s CAN-TV. Simone Elkeles, author of "How to Ruin a Summer Vacation," nominated for the Teens' Top Ten (TTT), and Chicago Public Library Youth Services Librarian Portia Latalladi talked about TTT, TRW, and provided tips on how to encourage teens to read. The segment ran on multiple public access channels in the Chicagoland area, and was posted to YouTube, the YALSA Wiki and the Teen Read Week Web press kit.

This was the first year that Spanish language media placement was achieved for TRW. Maria Gentle participated in a 30-minute interview with the Univision Radio Network. The interview was part of the Network’s Morning Show. Univision operates 70 stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco/San Jose, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, McAllen/Brownsville/Harlingen, San Diego, El Paso, Phoenix, Fresno, Albuquerque and Las Vegas. Univision Radio also owns and operates five radio stations in Puerto Rico.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), received substantial coverage of its National Conference, October 25 – 28, in Reno, Nev. More than 15 press members attended the event including staff from School Library Journal, Library Media Connection, Library Journal, eSchool News and District Administration.

PIO prepared a joint op ed that ran in the Reno Gazette Journal. The op ed entitled “NCLB sets bar too low for our school libraries,” ran October 25, and discussed the importance of having highly qualified school library media specialists in every school library, and the need for the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act (SKILLS Act). The paper also ran an article titled “Bill to enhance school librarian's role.” The article focused on how NCLB has impacted local funding for school libraries. AASL leadership also participated in a radio interview with KKOH , and television interview with Nevada NewsMakers (statewide syndication) and an in-studio with KRNV’s morning show “News Today.”

ALA spokespeople also participated in interviews regarding Library Card Sign-up Month, the new Harry Potter book and the announcement that one of its main characters is homosexual. Quotes from ALA leaders were also included in stories about the growing use of technology in libraries.

BANNED BOOKS WEEK / Censorship/ Book challenges

Clips: 250 reaching more than 132,954,598 online visitors and 23,923,298 million print readers. Television Mentions: 62 with 1,194,205 audience viewership and a publicity value of $54.061.38. Radio Interviews: 10+ (PIOcoordinated 10 BBW radio interviews, but ALA’s OIF was contacted directly by radio producers on several occasions) and 66 PSA s/Mentions.

Television Highlights:

  • CAN TV, Chicago
  • CSPAN Weekend
  • TimeOut Chicago
  • WBZ 4 News, Boston “Katie Couric’s Notebook”
  • WLS, Chicago
  • WMAQ, Chicago
  • WTTW “Chicago Tonight”

Radio Highlights:

  • WBBM
  • WLUW-FM
  • WPFW-FM, Washington D.C.
  • WVXU, Cincinnati(NPR Affiliate Cincinnati)
  • WYPR, Baltimore

Positive (119):

  • About.com, “Banned Books Week - Celebrate your freedom to read!”
  • AfterEllen.com, “Banned Books Week: A good reason to love your librarian”
  • Albany Times Union Online, “A few words in defense of books”
  • Arizona Daily Star, “Vigilance needed as calls to ban books continue”
  • Arizona Republic, “Library mulls removing work”
  • Arizona Republic Online, “Bannede Books Treasure Hunt' continues in surprise”
  • Arizona Republic Online, “Southwest Valley libraries join in Banned Books Week”
  • Asheville Citizen Times Online, “WCU library hosts banned books film festival”
  • Associated Content Online, “Banned Books Week is September 29 to October 6”
  • Battle Creek Enquirer Online, “Banned Books Week celebrates freedoms”
  • Battle Creek Enquirer Online, “We have right to intellectual freedom”
  • Battle Creek Enquirer Online, “Don't take freedom of choice for granted”
  • Beaufort Gazette Online, “Schools celebrate banned books”
  • Beaver Dam Daily Citizen Online, “Library celebrates banned books”
  • Book Links, “Understanding the First Amendment”
  • Book Links, “A Step Back and a Step Forward”
  • Book Links, “Need to Know”
  • Book Standard Online, “Starting Tomorrow: Read More Banned Books”
  • Carmel Magazine, “Blacklisted Books Out of the Fire”
  • Carroll County Comet Online, “National Banned Books Week to be celebrated by DPL”
  • Chicago Daily Southtown Online, “Candy fit for framing”
  • Chicago Suburban News Online, “Library patrons reflect on book banning”
  • Chicago Sun Times, “Treasure Literary Freedom”
  • Chicago Sun Times Online, “Treasure Literary Freedom”
  • Chicago Tribune <Saturday, “Should these books be banned?”
  • Chicago Tribune <Sunday, “Book banning efforts bring on title fights”
  • Columbus Dispatch <Sunday, “Books under fire often among best to read”
  • Commercial Appeal, “Speaking Volumes”
  • Commercial Appeal Online, “Public readings of disallowed stories and poems will highlight Banned Books Week”
  • Commuter Online, “Celebrating the freedom to read”
  • Daily Gazette Online, “McCabe Exhibit Calls Attention to Banned Books”
  • Daily Tar Heel Online, “Town opens up to banned books”
  • Daily Texan Online, “Texas authors make banned books list”
  • Democrat and Chronicle, “Uphold right of all Americans to read any, all books”
  • Detroit Free Press Online, “Celebrate reading freedom”
  • Eagle Online, “Guest Columnist: Help keep reading safe in America”
  • Forever Young, “Get the Grandkids Reading This Fall”
  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram Sunday, “Why Fort Worth's librarians stand up for 'Freedom to Read'”
  • Free Press Sunday, “Extra Points: Keep turning those pages”
  • Hartford Courant Online, “Heroes Who Preserve Freedom to Read”
  • Harvard Crimson Online, “Harvard Bibliophiles Censure Censorship”
  • Huntsville Item Online, “Banned books on display at Newton Gresham Library”
  • Huntsville Times Online, “Bask in badness of banned books”
  • Independent Collegian Online, “Celebrating freedom to read”
  • Joliet Herald News Online, “Library defends freedom of expression”
  • Joplin Globe Online, “Psst! 'They' don't want you to read this…”
  • Kansas City Star <Sunday, “Just try to ban my book”
  • Kansas City Star Online, “Beware: The written word has been on trial”
  • Kansas City Star Sunday, “Beware: Written Word Has Been on Trial”
  • KTHV-TV, “Banned Books Week has some reading aloud”
  • Lawrence Journal World Online, “Reading aloud at KU: Librarians mark Banned Books Week”
  • Lufkin Daily News Online, “The brighter side of book banning”
  • Madison Courier Online, “Banned Books Week”
  • Mankato Free Press Online, “Our View - Take a peek behind the caution tape”
  • Marshall Democrat Online, “Adventures in Libraryland/Marshall library observes Banned Book Week”
  • Milford Times Online, “Celebrate the freedom to read”
  • MSNBC.com, “Hofstra observes Banned Books Week with readings”
  • Muskogee Daily Phoenix, “Right to Read”
  • New Times Magazine, “Librarians are cool”
  • New York Daily News Online, “Libraries laud read, white, blue Freedom cited on Banned Books Week”
  • Newport News Times Online, “Banned Books Week celebrated at Newport Public Library”
  • News & Observer, “Southerners hug more people than trees”
  • Newsday, “Readers on the banned wagon”
  • Newsday Online, “Hofstra observes Banned Books Week with readings”
  • Northern Star Online, “DeKalb Public Library hosts Banned Book Week”
  • Orange County Register Sunday, “From the arts blog”
  • Oregon Daily Emerald Online, “Lois Lowry to visit Eugene Public Library for Banned Books Week”
  • Palm Beach Post Online, “The brighter side of book banning”
  • Parthenon Online, “Books open closed minds”
  • Philadelphia Inquirer Saturday, “There, in the mirror - a book banner”
  • Philadelphia Tribune, “In Your Community: Library holding 'banned books-a reading'”
  • Random Lengths, “Banned Books Battle Back on Banned Books Week”
  • Record Online, “Celebrate freedom to read”
  • Reporter Times Online, “In a library near you”
  • Roanoke Times Online, “The brighter side of book banning”
  • Rocky Mountain News, “Denver author lands 'One Book'”
  • Salt Lake Tribune Online, “Libraries honor freedom to read 'banned' books”
  • Salt Lake Tribune Online, “Banned Books Week honors freedom, diversity of ideas”
  • San Antonio Express-News Online, “Spotlight: Banned Books Week”
  • San Francisco Chronicle, “Leah Garchik”
  • Sierra Sun Online, “Good Reads: Young adult author Chris Crutcher to visit Incline”
  • Sioux City Journal Online, “Morningside to fete National Banned Books Week”
  • South Lyon Herald Online, “What would Holden Caufield say?”
  • Spartan Daily Online, “Do you know which books are banned?”
  • St. Helena Star Online, “Challenging the right to read”
  • St. Petersburg Times, “Forward Thinking: On Guard Against the Penguin Agenda”
  • Sunday Republican, “Groups hope to ignite love of literature”
  • SUU Journal Online, “Banned books spark controversy”
  • Tartan Online, “From Harry to Holden”
  • TCPalm.com, “Letter: We must continually fight to keep certain books in libraries, schools”
  • TeenInk.com, “Book Banning”
  • Terre Haute Tribune Star Online, “Indiana State University students read banned books, discuss Supreme Court”
  • The Hartford Courant, “Heroes Who Preserve Freedom to Read”
  • The Ranger Online, “Banned Books Week raises awareness of censorship lunacy”
  • The Spectrum Online, “Pick up a banned book today”
  • The Times-Picayune Sunday, “Banned Books Week is food for thought”
  • Time Out Chicago, “Saturday 29”
  • Times Union Sunday, “A few words in defense of books”
  • Toledo Free Press Online, “Banned Books Vigil is Oct. 4”
  • TriCities.com, “Banning books goes against the nation's founding principals”
  • Tucson Citizen Online, “Thought police can't get past noble librarians”
  • Tulsa World Sunday, “Banned together: Book lovers remember their favorite controversial works”
  • Tulsa World Sunday, “Wearing a statement”
  • USA Today, “Books”
  • Ventura County Star Online, “Librarians exhibit controversial books”
  • Ventura County Star Online, “Uphold your right to read”
  • Ventura County Sunday Star, “Privilege of reading to be celebrated”
  • Village Soup, “Treasure your freedom to read”
  • Virginian-Pilot Sunday, “BBW: In 2007, the debates still rage”
  • Waco Tribune Online, “Baylor to mark its first-ever Banned Books Week”
  • West Georgian Online, “Ingram Library hosts Banned Books week with events”
  • WIBW-TV Online, “Libraries, ACLU Celebrate Banned Books”
  • Wilmington News Journal, “WC reads banned books”
  • Winona Daily News, “Public demand remains for banned books”
  • WiscNews.com, “Library celebrates banned books”
  • WLUC-TV Online, “Banned Books Week Interests Local Teens”
  • Worcester Magazine, “Friday: Is Harry Potter on the list?”
  • Yale Daily News Online, “Lowry uses dark themes to enlighten”
  • YubaNet.com, “Treasure your freedom to read, get hooked on a banned book!”

Neutral (78)

  • AfterElton.com, “And Tango Makes Three is the ALA's most challenged book for 2006”
  • Alamogordo News Online, “Reading contests and banned books”
  • Ancorage Daily News Online, “Banned book week ends this Friday”
  • AP Entertainment Other, “Dirty Bard Book Is Romp of a Read”
  • AP Entertainment Reviews, “Dirty Bard Book Is Romp of a Read”
  • Arizona Republic Online, “ACLU urges Chandler library not to restrict materials”
  • Associated Content Online, “During Banned Books Week, A Look at Huckleberry Finn”
  • Baxter Bulletin Online, “Banned Books Week helps celebrate intellectual freedom”
  • Baylor Lariat Online, “Banned books to be on display at library”
  • BCRNews.com, “The banned list”
  • Camp Online, “Tango Tops List of Most Challenged Books”
  • Canadian Press Online, “Filthy Shakespeare' book romp of a read of Bard's rough-and-tumble London: review”
  • Canadian Press Online, “Book on male penguins tops list of 'challenged' library works”
  • Capital Times Online, “Literary Lunch: Lots of offerings, before and during fest”
  • Cecil Whig Online, “Banned book barely causes a ripple here”
  • Chicago Tribune Online, “Book banning efforts bring on title fights”
  • Chickasha Express-Star Online, “Banned books on display at library this week”
  • Daily Iowan Online, “Celebrating fighting book bans”
  • Daily Skiff Online, “Apathy toward reading allows disregard of author's passing”
  • Daily Vidette Online, “This Week in History”
  • Fond du Lac Reporter Online, “Notes from school”
  • Forbes.com, “Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:”
  • Fort Worth Star Telegram Online, “Red, white and censored”
  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram <Sunday, “Red, white and censored”
  • Free Lance Star Online, “Events: Banned Books Week promotes open mindedness”
  • Gay & Lesbian Times, “Celebrating Banned Books Week”
  • Hartford Courant Sunday, “Still Banning Books”
  • Harvard Crimson Online, “Harvard Bibliophiles Censure Censorship”
  • Huntington Herald Dispatch Online, “Public Libraries gear up for Banned Books Week”
  • Indianapolis Star Sunday, “Library group lists 10 titles for Banned Books Week”
  • Indianapolis Star Online, “Library group lists 10 titles for Banned Books Week”
  • Journal News (Central Edition), “Arts on the sound: Westchester Arts Council”
  • Journal Times Online, “Library screening unusual documentary Saturday night”
  • Kansas City Star Online, “Chris Crutcher continues to write controversial novels and champion the young adult mind”
  • KEYE-TV, “ACLU Releases Banned Books Report”
  • KTKA-TV, “KU Observes Banned Books Week”
  • Laconia Citizen Online, “Libraries celebrate Banned Books Week”
  • Las Vegas Review-Journal Sunday, “Book details what's lost in translation”
  • Lawrence Journal World & News Online, “Librarians at KU to read from banned books”
  • Lawrence Journal World Online, “Reading aloud at KU”
  • Los Angeles Times Online, “Library association embraces Banned Books Week”
  • Miami Herald Online, “Library puts spotlight on kids' right to read”
  • Mohave Valley News Online, “Banned Books: Once-forbidden pages to be celebrated soon”
  • Nevada Appeal Online, “Past Headlines Sept. 14”
  • New York Blade News, “Librarians: Gay Penguin Children's Book Tops "Most Challenged” List
  • News Tribune Online, “Book bans get Tacoma's attention”
  • Newsday.com, “Hofstra observes Banned Books Week with readings”
  • nj.com, “ALA's Ten most challenged books of 2006”
  • Oskaloosa Herald Online, “Freedom' to read in honor of free speech”
  • Philadelphia Inquirer Online, “There, in the mirror - a book banner”
  • Pioneer Press Sunday, “Cute penguins…and an ugly effort to ban books”
  • Pioneer Press Sunday, “Freedom of Expression”
  • Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Online Saturday, “Banned Books Week Reading”
  • Plain Dealer, “Browsing the arts: Shaker Heights Public Library”
  • Post-Standard Sunday, “Open that Book: Banned Book Week activities focus on the freedom to read”
  • Press Enterprise Online, “Author Ray Bradbury to appear in San Bernardino”
  • Reporter Times Online, “Library encourages reading banned books”
  • Richmond Times Dispatch Saturday, “Book banning never out of fashion”
  • Sacramento Bee, “BANNED in the U.S.A.”
  • Sacramento Bee Online, “Banned in the U.S.A.”
  • San Luis Obispo Tribune Online, “Bob Cuddy: Another banner year in banned books”
  • Seattle Times Online, “Two beloved books take stage, with striking parallels”
  • South Lyon Herald Online, “Local libraries let readers decide on books”
  • St. Cloud Times Online, “Banned book week highlingts controversial selections”
  • St. Petersburg Times, “University of South Florida St. Petersburg”
  • Star Tribune Saturday, “Appropriate timing”
  • SUU Journal Online, “Big Read kicks off in flames”
  • Tampa Bay Newspapers Online, “To get your word out, Thomas is your man”
  • That Other Paper Online, “Free the books!”
  • The Post-Standard, “Author talks about writing, signs books for students”
  • Time Magazine, “What the Kids Aren't Reading”
  • TriCities.com, “Keep Lee Smith in the curriculum”
  • Tuscaloosa News Online, “Banned Books Week approaches”
  • Ventura County Sunday Star Online, “Literary Happenings: Privilege of reading to be celebrated”
  • WBEZ-FM, “Nation Kicks Off Annual Banned Books Week”
  • WGN-AM Online, “Chicago Kicks Off Banned Books Week”
  • WJBC-FM, “Public readings for Banned Books Week”
  • Yourhub.com, “Rangeview library celebrates banned books week

Negative (9):