Communications in Your HTC Community

YOU are the expert in planning, organizing, and distributing the story about your community and your new adventure with HTC!

Unique qualities of your community

Unique features of the HTC program

How HTC is benefiting your community

Determine your purpose. Determine your roles- who is the fact-

finder, who is the editor, who is the facilitator?

Think about your project timeline and how it relates to your communications efforts.

What person on your team is responsible for preparing and sending press releases?

Who will take photos to document your events and send them to the press?

Who is your spokesperson?

Fire officials grilled over kerosene heaters.

Kids make nutritious snacks.

Local high school drop-outs cut in half.

Red tape holds up new bridges.

In case your community needs a Spanish Interpreter, check with OCRA for resources.

Remember your audience!

Community: Your county’s media list. Keep a list of the people who you have

worked with in the past. Create an e-mail distribution list of your contacts.• ASK what people are reading, listening to,

and watching. As an individual county, you will

coordinate hometown media activities – and work with your local media independently.

State: OCRA will coordinate statewide releases and media inquiries.

We will periodically send out releases about your progress.

If you have questions or ideas for media activities on the state level, here is our contact information:

  Ann McConnell (317) 232-8832 Annie Bell (317) 232-

0162

QUOTES: Find the right person. Spokesperson for your call-out for

survey participation? Spokesperson for events? For topics

like developing local leadership? Get the “bang for your buck”

Work with your team to write a quote for a news release announcing your community’s participation in the HTC program.

PHOTOS: Bring your story to life with photographs. “Feel good” photos Local HTC Kick Off Event Presentation to the community about your

HTC plans The “ask” for their participation Working with a grad student or intern Community festivals or celebrations Your Opportunity Retreat

Determine your talking points• Identify one key message• 5 W’s (who, what, why, where, when)

How will you pitch the story?• Does anyone on your team have a working

relationship with a local media representative?

• Find out the name and contact information for specific “beat” reporters

Don’t forget about the local chamber of commerce, visitor’s center, or anyone else who may put your information in a newsletter

Remember the “two week, two day” rule

Reminder calls- got lemons- make lemonade!

Get questions? Send quick, personal answers!

Remember that the reporter has a story budget and a deadline.

Time is money!

Consistency• Use similar key words and phrases • Keep in contact with your media and

communication contacts at regular intervals.

• Absence does not make the heart grow fonder- reporters will NOT prioritize your stories unless YOU do!

Put yourself in their shoes.

For the audience:• What do you want the public to know and

remember? For the reporter:

• Is print, web, or video best for this story?

• Will your audience see your story in a newsletter, or on a bulletin board?

How will your media react? How might you create a spark of

interest? What exactly will you tell the

community? How can you get coverage? How are news stories and editorials

different? Is HTC a public service? Your economic & business climate?