Getting Your Message Across...Press or News Release A press or news release is a written announcement of a newsworthy activity or program for distribution to the print media (newspapers

PUBLIC RELATIONS & PUBLICITY GUIDEm

Getting YourMessage Across

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Knights of Columbus1 Columbus Plaza

New Haven, CT 06510-3326

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I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

III. Getting Your Message Across — Public Relations and Publicity . . . . . . 3

Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Public Relations and Publicity Versus Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

How To Recognize a News Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Print and Broadcast Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IV. The Mechanics of Public Relations and Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Defining Target Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Developing and Maintaining Media Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Establishing Media Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

V. The News Peg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

VI. Hands-on Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Written Media Materials Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Press Release Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Photo Release Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Media Alert Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Feature Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Public Service Announcement Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Columbia Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Knightline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Squires Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

VII. Monthly Council Newsletter and Council Web Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

VIII. Fund Raising for People with Intellectual Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

IX. Other Public Relations Possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

X. Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Sample Press Releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Sample Media Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Sample Public Service Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Sample Photo Caption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Tips for Better Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Rules Governing the use of the Name and Emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Sample Photo Permission Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

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As a Knight of Columbus, you shouldcontinually search for new ways toenhance our Order’s mission andcontributions to the Church, communityand fellowman.

Public relations can be a very usefulcommunications tool, advancing Knightsof Columbus principles and buildingcommunity support for your council andits activities. This guide is designed toprovide your council with the “tools ofthe trade” needed to carry out a successfulpublic relations program.

Public relations is simplycommunicating a message to an audience.To build a truly effective public relationsprogram, messages should be ongoing tostrengthen the council’s image andbroaden its impact in the community.

Following the guidelines in thismanual, you will be able to conducteffective and consistent publicityprograms for your council.

There are many rewards and benefitsto a well-planned public relationsprogram. For the Knights of Columbus, aneffective program can:

1. Create awareness in thecommunity for your council andits contributions.

2. Build a positive image for theKnights of Columbus as a whole,and your council in particular.

3. Create valuable exposure for thecouncil and its activities.

4. Communicate key messages totarget audiences.

5. Clear away misconceptions.

6. Strengthen community support forthe Knights of Columbus and itsmission.

7. Assist in recruiting new members.

Your introduction to public relationsbegins with a Glossary of Terms. Specialsections on Getting Your Message Across,The Mechanics of Public Relations, TheNews Peg and Hands-on Tips follow.Sample supporting materials are includedin the Appendix.

Welcome to the world of publicrelations. We hope this guide will helpyou achieve your public relations goals.

Introduction

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MessageA message is the information you

want to communicate to your key ortarget audience.

Media ListA media list is a list of newspapers,

magazines, radio and television stations inyour area. You will direct your publicrelations activities to these media outlets.

Key or Target AudienceThe key or target audience is the

primary group of people you want toreach with your message. Your audiencemay include families, youth, etc.

Press or News ReleaseA press or news release is a written

announcement of a newsworthy activityor program for distribution to the printmedia (newspapers and magazines) and/orbroadcast media (radio and television).(See Appendix, pages 20-25 for samples.)

Photo ReleaseA photo release includes a

photograph and written caption (a shortdescription of the photo) for distributionto the print media. (See Appendix, page28 for sample.)

Media AlertA media alert is a written advance

announcement of an upcoming eventlisting details of Who, What, Where,When and Why, for distribution to printand/or broadcast media, encouraging theirattendance and coverage. (See Appendix,page 26 for sample.)

Public Service AnnouncementA public service announcement (PSA)

is a written or audiovisual announcementof a community service activity or eventfor distribution to newspapers, radio ortelevision stations. (See Appendix, page27 for sample.)

Feature StoryA feature is a story of wider scope

than a news release and often includes ahuman-interest angle. It is distributed toprint and/or television media.

Local Cable AccessMany local cable companies have

cable access channels for programmingthat originates locally from communityorganizations or individuals. Thesechannels offer publicity opportunities.

Media SpokespersonA media spokesperson is the person

designated by your council to talk tomedia, discuss programs and providequotes.

Media MentionAn article about or mention of your

program or activity appearing in anewspaper or magazine, on radio ortelevision is an example of a mediamention, either placed by your council orinitiated by the media itself. Qualitycoverage will mention the name of yourorganization and council.

Glossary of Terms

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DefinitionPublic relations is communications

designed to create positive, widespreadawareness of an organization, its role,programs and mission.

A critical part of public relations ispublicity. Successful publicity efforts resultin editorial media exposure in the form ofnews or feature articles in newspapers,magazines and websites, and references,announcements or interviews on radioand television stations and the Internet.Publicity is a very effective way to informthe public about the many aspects of theKnights of Columbus in your community.

Public Relations and Publicity vs.Advertising

Like advertising, public relationsrelies heavily on the media to convey aspecific message to key audiences. Butunlike advertising, the publication spaceand station time resulting from publicrelations efforts are free. For example,thecost of a half-page advertisement in amajor newspaper could be about $15,000,while the same amount of space for aneditorial article generated by publicrelations is free.

Unlike advertising, public relationscannot guarantee control of where, whenand even if coverage will occur. That isthe media’s final decision. But whensuccessful, public relations can create amajor impact, since the media present thedesired message on editorial pages andnews broadcasts as opposed to paidadvertising space and broadcast time. Thisis called a “third-party endorsement” and isvery valuable to the credibility of anorganization and its message.

Getting Your Message AcrossPublic Relations and Publicity

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How To Recognize a News StoryInformation sent to editors and

broadcasters must describe local, timely,newsworthy events that will appeal toreaders, listeners and viewers.

Following is a sample list of councilactivities in which the media may beinterested. There are bound to be othersrelated to your specific council andcommunity.

1. Awards presented to members orto the council and awards thecouncil presents to others;

2. Number of new membersrecruited during a membershipdrive;

3. New officers;4. Basketball Free Throw

Championship and SoccerChallenge;

5. Senior citizens programs;6. Refund Support Vocations

Program (RSVP);7. Fund-raising projects for people

with intellectual and/or physicaldisabilities;

8. Sponsored cardiopulmonaryresuscitation (CPR) or other healthrelated courses;

9. Unusual or extensive churchrenovations;

10. Student loan programs,scholarship winners;

11. Other community service or fund-raising projects;

12. Knights of Columbus support afternatural disasters;

13. Hands-on assistance to familiesthat have suffered personaldisaster, loss or illness;

14. Council awards to “Family of theYear” and “Knight of the Year”;

15. Local results of Annual Survey ofFraternal Activity;

16. Financial contributions tocommunity agencies;

17. Major anniversaries or relatedactivities;

18. Almost anything that issuperlative: biggest, smallest,latest, newest, oldest.

Print and Broadcast MediaMedia outlets fall into two major

groups: print and broadcast. Both shouldbe used to target information about yourlocal activities.

Print Media• Newspapers include daily, weekly

and community papers — secular,diocesan, ethnic and state councilpublications. These publicationsalso often have websites associatedwith them.

• Magazines include state andcommunity publications, companyand association publications, aswell as general and special-interestmagazines, such as sports or youthpublications, and Columbia.

• Newsletters include council,church and organization (seniorcitizen, chamber of commerce,local service clubs) bulletins, andlibrary and school publications.

Broadcast Media• Radio includes AM, FM and online

stations with news or talk segmentsor shows.

• Broadcast television includesnetwork, independent and localtelevision stations (and theirwebsites).

• Cable television includes cablestations with local-originationprogramming available. Not all localcable companies have localprogramming capabilities, so checkyour television listings or call thelocal cable operator to find outwhich stations have localprogramming.

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Defining Target MarketsReaching the right people with the

right message is critical to a successfulpublic relations/publicity program. First,look at the subject of your message. Whoshould receive that message? Are youtrying to reach families, young people,community leaders, business people orgeneral audiences?

As you develop your media list (seepage 6 for details), you can match yourtarget audience to the appropriate mediaoutlet to reach that audience. The mediacan tell you who their audiences are.

For example, if your council in Peoriais planning a major activity or event thatrequires public support, the appropriatemedium is Peoria’s Journal-Star, not theChicago Tribune.

DistributionDistributing news and feature releases

requires attention to several mechanicalfunctions.

DuplicationYour release should be clearly printed

on appropriate Knights of Columbusletterhead. Be certain that all copies arelegible and clean.

Distribution

Hand-DeliveredIf you are in a small community, youmay want to hand deliver yourreleases. This is an effective personaltouch.

Fax or E-MailMost reporters have distinct personalpreferences on how they receivenews releases. A reporter may havean e-mail address, but may stronglyprefer to get a time-sensitive releasevia fax or in other “paper” form.

Mail DistributionIf you mail your releases, send themfirst-class and address them by nameto a specific contact. Call the mediaoutlet for the name of the individualto whom your release should bedirected.

Electronic DistributionThere are professional services thatspecialize in distributing newsreleases by electronic wire directly tomedia newsrooms. If you have anyactivity that is particularly timely orimportant, and has interest beyondyour local community, this vehiclecan be useful.

The Mechanics of PublicRelations and Publicity

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TimingTo be successful, publicity must be

timely. Similarly, the success or failure ofan event often depends on the publicitysurrounding the event. Your councilshould use publicity for two mainpurposes: (1) to announce forthcomingevents in order to ensure full participationby members or the public, and (2) toinform members and the public about theaccomplishments of the council and theOrder.

Proper timing of your releases canmake the difference in getting mediacoverage. You should schedule yourrelease about an upcoming event so thatthe media has it in hand at least twoweeks prior to the event or activity.Follow up with phone calls closer to thetime of the event.

For releases that pertain to newmembers or officers, results of fund-raising or other activities, plan to get therelease to the media as quickly as possibleand no later than two days after the eventor activity. There is no news in old news.

Your credibility as an informationsource will falter if you extend last-minuteinvitations to the media or sendannouncement information after theprogram or event has taken place. Youalso will not receive the coverage yourequest. Allow adequate time to prepareand distribute your material.

Developing and MaintainingMedia Lists

A key component in any public relationseffort is an up-to-date and accurate medialist. To develop this list, consult your localtelephone book for a listing of allnewspapers, magazines, radio, television andcable stations. Check with your local chapterof the International Association of BusinessCommunicators, Public Relations Societyof America or Women in Communication.These organizations may have local mediadirectories already prepared, or may beable to identify outside companies that sellmedia lists. Your local library might havemedia resource books such as Bacon’sRadio/TV/Newspaper/MagazineDirectory, or The Gale Directory ofPublications and Broadcast Media. Alsoinclude church and state council bulletinsand diocesan newspapers on your list.

For newspapers, the right contact isusually the city editor or religion editor.For television, radio and cable stations, thenews or assignment editor/director is theproper contact person. PSAs should bedirected to the public service director. Thebest way to find out who is the mostappropriate contact is to call and ask,“Who would be the person most interestedin receiving a release on (subject)?” Keep inmind that releases on different topics mighthave to be directed to different people atthe same publication. When you call themedia to ask for a contact name, you canalso ask who is the major audience for thatnewspaper, magazine or station.

You should know the deadlines of themedia on your list. The media will be gladto provide these to you. Keep in mind thateven at the same publication, differentdepartments may have different deadlineschedules. Note how best to reach yourcontact with news materials — fax, mail,hand-delivery or e-mail.

You should plan to update your listevery three months. In the mediabusiness, people move around a lot. Aquick and simple phone call can verifythat your contact is still there.

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Establishing Media RelationsAfter you have developed your media

list, the next step is to get personallyacquainted with your new contacts. Keepconversations short and to the point,particularly with newspapers andtelevision stations in large cities.

Always remember these simpleguidelines when contacting the “rightperson” by telephone:

• Identify yourself, your organizationand the purpose of your call (tointroduce yourself and your role aspublic relations representative forthe Knights of Columbus).

• Editors and broadcasters work ondeadlines, so always ask if thetiming of your call is convenient. Ifnot, ask when to call back.

• Once you have reached yourcontact, you can talk by phone orset a convenient time to meet todiscuss your council’s upcomingactivities and determine what typeof information your contact may beable to use in the future.

• Always be appreciative of the timeyou are given. Once you haveestablished a basic relationship,continue to touch base with yourcontact from time to time. Don’tbecome a bother, as editors andbroadcasters are busy. Don’t ask ifthey will use your story.

• Remember that your story iscompeting with many others forlimited space and you will notalways succeed in attractingcoverage. The media are notobliged to cover your news.Demanding their support willjeopardize your relationship.

• Send a note occasionally thankingcontacts for the help they havegiven your council.

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Coming up with angles to interest themedia isn’t always easy. Timeliness isimportant, of course, but it’s alsoimportant to focus on some aspect of theprogram or event that is interesting to themedia and the public. This is called the“news peg.”

As a planning aid, develop andmaintain a “forcing events” calendar: acomprehensive chronological listing ofpending initiatives and developments thathave the potential of becoming newspegs.

For the Knights of Columbus,interesting news pegs might be:

1. Announcement of new officers;

2. Winners in the Free ThrowChampionship or the SoccerChallenge on a local, district, statecouncil or international level;

3. Dollars raised for the communitythrough fund-raising efforts withexamples of where the moneygoes and how it is being used;

4. How senior citizens benefit fromthe Order’s programs, withexamples of one or twoindividuals;

5. Oldest or youngest Knight’sinvolvement;

6. An interesting community serviceproject and the volunteer hoursand number of volunteersinvolved;

7. Results of the Annual Survey ofFraternal Activity;

8. Squire activities or honors.

These would not only make goodnews stories, but also offer excellentphoto and feature opportunities. Forexample, send an action photo of the FreeThrow Championship or help the mediadevelop a feature story on a senior citizenwho has been aided through a Knights ofColumbus program. If you take the photo,be sure it is of professional quality — asharp, clear image with good contrast andinteresting subject.

Use your imagination, and don’t beafraid to ask your media contacts foradvice. In most cases, you’ll find they willbe eager to help you. They’re as anxiousfor a good story as you are for aplacement.

The News Peg

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Written Media Materials GuidelinesEven with the right information,

failing to comply with a few copyguidelines could ruin your chances formedia coverage. Written media materialsthat require the least amount of effort onthe part of the editor have the best chanceof publication. When sending any writtenmaterials (including press releases, photoreleases and media alerts) to an editor orbroadcaster, always make certain you dothe following:

• Remember that the appearance ofany news release or othercorrespondence reflects theprofessionalism of the Knights ofColumbus and yourself.

• Keep the information as brief andconcise as possible.

• Print releases double-spaced on81/2” x 11” Knights of Columbusletterhead paper, if possible, usingthe front side only.

• Make margins at least 1” on bothsides of the release for editing andmaking notes.

• Include the Knights of Columbuscontact person’s name, title andtelephone number in the upperright-hand corner of the release’sfirst page. If letterhead is notavailable, add the council name andaddress to this block of information.

• Precede your first paragraph withthe city and state/province (printedin all caps) where the informationoriginated, as well as the mailingdate.

• If your story runs more than onepage, use the word “more” at thebottom of each page except thelast. Identify second andsubsequent pages with pagenumbers and a reference to thesubject so that the pages may beput back together in the event theybecome separated.

• Use the symbol “###” centered on aline by itself after the lastparagraph, to indicate the end ofthe release.

• Standard language describing theKnights of Columbus and itsmission should be included in everypress release. (See samples inAppendix, pages 20-25.)

• For future reference, keep copies ofall information you send.

• Distribute your materials by hand-delivery, fax, e-mail or regular mail.Depending on the time sensitivityand various media deadlines, allmodes of distribution should beconsidered for your distributionplan.

Hands-on Tips

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Press Release Guidelines(Use for print and broadcast media.)

• Use a short, eye-catching actionheadline (title) on your release.

• Identify the primary purpose orgoal of your release and make ityour “lead” in the first paragraph.Write your lead so it will catch andhold the editor’s attention.

• Make sure that your release answerssix important questions about yourtopic: Who, What, Where, When,How and Why.

• When writing your release, alwaysput the most important informationat the beginning. Organize theinformation in order of descendingimportance, with the leastimportant facts at the end. (If themedia cuts the release to make itshorter, most often they’ll cut theend and the most important factswill still be included.)

• Make sure the names, numbers,quotations and other factualinformation are correct. Make sureall quotes are properly attributed tothe person saying them, includingthe person’s name and title.

• Keep the information factual; avoidopinions, except attributedquotations.

• For every person quoted in therelease, always obtain verbal orwritten consent to have his or hername and statement published.

• Keep your release short and to thepoint. A press release should bevery focused, discussing onesubject at a time.

• Follow up by phone to make sureyour release was received. Beprepared to send another copy if aneditor is interested in the story butcan’t locate or can’t rememberreceiving the release.

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Photo Release Guidelines• E-mail digital photo files of at least

300 dpi at 4” x 6” or 5” x 7.” JPGformat is the most familiar anduniversal file type.

• When setting up the photo, makesure the background is simple anduncluttered.

• Try to include people in the shotwhenever possible. Because theywill be representing the Knights ofColumbus, make sure your subjectsappear neat and comfortable, notposed. Also try to include someKnights of Columbus identification. . . lapel pins, council banners,jackets and T-shirts, caps, etc.

• Try to get action that tells a storyinto your photograph. For example,instead of getting a photo of aKnight handing over a check to alocal hospital administrator (called a“grip and grin” shot), create aphoto which will show the use ofthe donation, such as a patientusing equipment, etc.

• Obtain written usage consent fromevery person who appears in thephotograph. It is useful to have aprepared photo-consent formavailable on site. (See Appendixpage 31 for sample.)

• Always send a photo caption,identifying the people from left toright, with the digital photograph.Double-check all names and titles.

• Send photos files only to printmedia. Exception: some televisionstations may use a color slide asbackdrop to an announcer tellingthe story.

• Follow up by phone to make sureyour photo was received.

• See the Tips for Better Photossection of the Appendix on page 28.

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Media Alert Guidelines(Use for print and broadcast media)

• Send media alerts to announce anupcoming event and to encouragethe media to attend.

• Type “Media Alert” at the top of thepage.

• Write a catchy, short headline(title) designed to get the media’sattention.

• Keep the media alert to one page— the shorter the better.

• List the Who, What, Where, Whenand photos in clear simple words.Tell the media WHY they shouldcover this event.

• Follow up by phone to make sureyour media alert was received.

Feature Guidelines• Unlike “hard news” stories, which

typically focus on concrete data(names, numbers, specific events,etc.), feature stories tend toconcentrate on the “humaninterest” of personalities andpersonal relationships.

• A feature story may, for example,deal with personalities or thehistory of programs or the Knightsof Columbus itself.

• Most often, a feature is written orproduced by the media. You mustinterest the media in writing orproducing it.

• To “pitch” or tell the media about afeature opportunity, you shouldwrite a short synopsis of the ideaand call a specific media outlet totalk about your idea.

• After you talk, send a letter withyour synopsis.

• A feature is usually offered as an“exclusive.” This means that youoffer it to just one media outlet, asopposed to press releases, photoreleases and public serviceannouncements, which should besent to all media outlets at the sametime. If the first outlet declines,then you can offer it to another,and so on. Do not try to interestmore than one outlet at a time inyour feature story.

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Public Service AnnouncementGuidelines

• Use public service announcements(PSAs) to announce a Knights ofColumbus community activity thatis open or available to the public(e.g. Free Throw Championship orfund-raising program) or to provideinformation of use to thecommunity (e.g., a message onyouth safety or a family activity).Fund-raising activities for the needy,special community projects andspecial events would beappropriate subjects for a PSA.

• For radio, contact the publicservice director at the stations toidentify the format for their PSAs.Most use 30-second PSA spots, butsome use 60-second spots. Youhave two options: you can writeyour PSA, time it to meet the 30- or60-second time frame by reading italoud, or you can arrange to recordyour PSA for distribution tostations. Check with the stations tosee what they require.

• For television, contact the stations’public service directors to get theirPSA specifications, including lengthand use of visuals. Visuals canusually be either a digital photo orbrief video. You can supply theappropriate visuals with your scriptor have the PSA produced by alocal production facility. Yourvisuals should be clear, interestingand of commercial quality.

• Along with the recording, it isimportant to provide a cover letterstating why the PSA is importantand of interest to local viewers.

• Whatever format you use for radioand television, always include aprinted copy of the message (donein all capital letters, double-spaced,with the length of theannouncement specified). Type“Public Service Announcement” atthe top of the page.

• When writing your PSA, rememberthat your text will be read aloud.Read it aloud yourself to hear howit sounds.

• Make sure your PSA is addressed tothe public service director of eachradio or television station.

• Follow up by phone to make sureyour PSA was received and issuitable for airing.

• If you are producing your ownvideo PSA, it need not have a slickappearance, but it must meetbroadcast standards. The PSAshould be shot by a professionalcamera operator. A productioncompany should be used. Usinghome video would not beappropriate.

• On occasion, the Supreme Councilproduces radio and television PSAswhich local councils can obtainfree of charge to provide to localmedia. Councils can help get moreair time for a PSA by calling thepublic service directors of localstations to encourage them to airthe PSA, emphasizing theimportance of its message to thelocal community.

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Columbia GuidelinesMembers of the Order receive

Columbia magazine each month.Published in English, French, Spanish andPolish (online only), it contains generalinterest features, columns and news on theOrder.

“Knights of Columbus News” is amonthly roundup of developments fromthe Supreme Council, the board ofdirectors and the Supreme Council office.

“Knights in Action” highlights activitiesof local and state councils, assemblies andcircles that may spark ideas for projects inother jurisdictions, and serve as a model ofColumbianism for Knights or prospectivemembers. Examples of activitiesappropriate for this section include acouncil that raises money for a crisispregnancy center, runs a weekly soupkitchen or sponsors a nonprofit housingdevelopment for elderly people.

A large majority of all news itemssubmitted by local and state councilseventually appear in Columbia. Due to themagazine’s production schedule, though,material for “Knights in Action” is preparedup to two months in advance of itspublication. Because of space limitationsand the large number of local councilssubmitting materials, it often takes severalmonths for an item to appear in themagazine.

Every 30 days, the previous month’s“Knights in Action” reports received byColumbia are edited and posted atwww.kofc.org.

Columbia is particularly interested infeature stories, of interest to all readers, onK of C projects aimed at solvingcommunity problems. Ask yourself: “Is ouractivity of interest to members in...?” andthink of an area at least 500 miles away.

The magazine also seeks action colorphotos of volunteer projects for the“Building A Better World” page. This is a

feature on the inside back cover thathighlights a council’s service to Church orcommunity and the need for recruitingnew members.

The Columbia online edition isavailable at www.kofc.org, by clicking onthe “Columbia” link. Posted monthly,Columbia online contains many of thefeatures and columns found in the printmagazine, as well as a timely and expanded“Knights in Action” section. Virtually allsubmissions of written materials andphotos from K of C units appear in thissection, which is updated monthly.

A flyer, “Your Story in Columbia,”providing guidelines for submissions to theprint and online “Knights in Action”sections, including tips for taking qualityphotos, is available from the magazine.Copies of the flyer are provided to eachcouncil in the annual “Surge...with Service”mailing. If your council did not receive theflyer, please contact Columbia by using thecontacts listed below. If you do not havethe flyer, follow the press release andphoto release guidelines given elsewhere inthis booklet. In all cases, photosubmissions should be in color.

Materials for magazine and online“Knights in Action” sections should be sentto Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza, NewHaven, CT 06510-3326; or by e-mail [email protected]. Photos via e-mailshould be sent as separate attached imagefiles and not as part of a Word document.Images should be at least 4.5 inches wideand have a resolution of 300 dpi or greater.Be sure to include caption information inthe e-mail.

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How press releases are distributed bySupreme Council

News from the Supreme Council mayhave local, state, national or internationalsignificance. The nature of the newsdetermines how widely a press release isdisseminated outside the Order’s network.

Supreme Council press releases areposted on the Order’s Web site,www.kofc.org, under the “News” link,where all Knights have access to them. Allpress releases also are sent via e-mail tostate council officers, usually statedeputies and publicity chairmen, forinclusion in K of C state and localpublications.

Depending on the scope of the news,press releases may also be sent to variousreligious and secular media outlets, suchas the Catholic News Service (whichsupplies all diocesan publications), localradio stations and national newspapers.

Other Supreme Council PublicationsKnightline

Knightline is one of the Order’sprimary communications tools fordisseminating information about theSupreme Council and its varied programs,the Order’s Board of Directors and itsactivities, and other news and information

from the Supreme Council office.Knightline is mailed 12 times a year to

council officers and Service Programpersonnel, keeping them up-to-date onnews, programs and initiatives useful tothem in carrying out their responsibilitiesat the local level. It also provides timelyinformation and reminders to councilsregarding Service Program activities andmembership recruitment efforts.

Since its focus is solely on the newsgenerated by the Supreme Council office,Knightline should not be contacted bylocal councils for publicity about theiractivities.

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The council newsletter gainsmembership support of activities andstimulates interest in the Knights ofColumbus.

An editor should be appointed for thecouncil bulletin. He should have a keensense of organization and administration,as well as a flair for news. His dutiesinclude contacting council officers andcommittee chairmen to obtain items ofinterest, soliciting advertisements, writingeditorial copy and overseeing the layout ofthe publication.

Use the same guidelines for photos,features and press releases to developarticles for the council newsletter. Send acopy of your newsletter to the SupremeCouncil Department of Fraternal Services,1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326.

Below are suggestions for appropriatecontent.

• Features and press releasesdeveloped for local newspapers andmagazines. If an item is of interestto the general public, it willcertainly be of interest to councilmembers.

• Announcements of planned councilevents and special notices oncouncil business such as dues,elections, etc.

• A regular column by the grandknight to highlight important newsand to give credit for outstandingmember achievement.

• Information received from theSupreme Council office, such as aKnights of Columbus film beingaired on television, or letter-writingcampaigns to legislators.

• A chaplain’s column to providecomment on pertinent matters.

• Reports from each of the ServiceProgram directors on scheduledactivities.

• Excerpts of speeches by visitingdignitaries.

• A calendar of coming events formembers’ quick reference.

• Listings of birthdays, anniversaries,deaths, congratulations, etc.

• Membership campaign promotions.

• Knights of Columbus insurancecolumn written by general or fieldagent.

• Notice of First, Second and Thirddegree exemplifications.

• Reprints from Knightline of newsstories and programming ideas ofinterest to all members.

The format of the council newsletterwill depend on budget and volume ofnews available. Make your newsletter lookas good as possible. Readability is asimportant as well-written articles. If at allpossible, have a professional artist ordesktop publisher from your councildesign your newsletter. In developing a“layout” design, keep the following inmind:

• Be sure to indicate the councilname, number and location in aconspicuous place in your bulletin.

• Do not try to put too muchinformation on a page — it will bedifficult to read. Be sure to leaveplenty of “white space” (blankspace) around articles and artwork.

• Do not use more than two differenttypefaces. The use of manydifferent styles creates a confusinglook.

• Photographs and artwork helpdevelop reader interest. Knights ofColumbus clip art can be used toadd graphics to the councilnewsletter. Clip art is also availableon the Order's Web site atwww.kofc.org. This electronic clipart contains samples of the Order’s

Monthly Council Newsletter andCouncil website

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various emblems; seasonal,programming, membership andreligious artwork; and other images.Be sure that the photographs andartwork relate to a nearby story,and that any photo is clearlycaptioned.

Council WebsiteMany councils now maintain Internet

home pages. They can easily be found andoffer many ideas which your council maywant to adopt or modify for its own use.Virtually all of the Internet “how to” booksprovide easy-to-follow instructions on howto set up your own home page. The “ForOfficers” section of the Order’s websiteincludes a council website template.

As with anything in public relations,bear in mind your basic communicationsobjectives and the interests of the targetaudiences you want to reach. In additionto whatever other information you offeron your website, be sure to post yournews releases as well and that they aredirectly accessible from your home page.

Once you have created a councilwebsite, keep it fresh with updatedmaterial and promote your Web addressthrough all your other public relationsmaterials. Be sure to include it with thecouncil telephone number, mailingaddress, and e-mail address wherever theyappear— especially on council newsreleases. You can include a link to theSupreme Council site — www.kofc.org —or links to your state council site or othernearby council sites. Prior to publishingmaterials from another site or any source,you should request permission from thesource and include attribution.

AdvertisementsMany councils finance their entire

publication through the acceptance ofcarefully chosen advertisements. Forpurposes of editorial and financialplanning, obtaining ads from a specificgroup of advertisers who pay a flat fee inexchange for publication in each issuethroughout a fraternal year is moreefficient than trying to sell individual adson a monthly basis.

When soliciting advertising for yourpublication, keep in mind the followingresolution adopted by the Knights ofColumbus Board of Directors in 1985:

“VOTED, that the Board of Directorsreaffirms its position that fraternalpublications, (state, chapter, council,assembly or corporation) are prohibitedfrom accepting advertisements and newsitems relating directly or indirectly to thesale or servicing of life or health insuranceother than advertisements and news itemspromoting the Order’s insurance program,and that a violation of this rule by anypublication will constitute cause toprohibit the further use of the name andemblem of the Order by said publication.”

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Members of the Knights of Columbusdo a great deal to assist people withintellectual disabilities. As your councilworks to improve the quality of life forpeople with intellectual disabilities, someguidelines to follow in referring to peoplewith intellectual disabilities might beuseful. Council bulletins, committeereports, posters and flyers, press releasesand everyday speech should be accurateand considerate when referring to peoplewith disabilities. The following are some“DOs and DON’Ts” of language:

• DO talk or write about “peoplewith intellectual disabilities,” not“the retarded.” You should notidentify the person as a label —leave room for having intellectualdisabilities to be just one of themany ways you can describe aperson. In addition, put the personbefore the condition — “peoplewith intellectual disabilities” isprobably best.

• DON’T refer to all people withintellectual disabilities as if theywere children. Adults withintellectual disabilities should bespoken to and about as adults. Anewsletter article which wouldnormally refer to its adult subject as“William C. Smith” should not referto an adult who has intellectualdisabilities as “Billy,” or otherwisetreat him as a child.

• DON’T use negative terms like“victim of,” “afflicted with,”“suffering from,” “unfortunate,” etc.,when describing an individual withintellectual disabilities. Say someone“uses a wheelchair” rather than “iscrippled” or “is wheelchair-bound.”

• DON’T imply disease whenspeaking or writing about someonewith intellectual disabilities. He orshe is not “sick” and you cannot“catch” the condition.

Most importantly, people with anydisabilities — mental, physical oremotional — are still people. Speak orwrite of these individuals with the respectany human being deserves. Keep in mindthat how you refer to people can have agreat impact on the way others perceivethem.

“Campaign for People withIntellectual Disabilities”

One of the most popular andsuccessful programs conducted by Knightsof Columbus state and local councils forthe benefit of people with intellectualdisabilities is the fund-raiser in whichcouncils collect donations outside storesand on street corners. In appreciation, thedonor is offered a candy bar, often aTootsie Roll. The high visibility of thisprogram has led to the campaign beingreferred to as the “Tootsie Roll Drive.”The nickname is understandable, butmisleading.

The Knights of Columbus has noofficial tie to Tootsie Rolls or theirmanufacturer. In fact, many councilsparticipate in the same fund-raising drive,but distribute other items. References tothis program should highlight the goodthe money does, not advertise a candy bar.For these reasons, it is stronglyrecommended that this project bepromoted as the “Campaign for Peoplewith Intellectual Disabilities” rather thanthe “Tootsie Roll Drive.”

Fund-Raising for Peoplewith Intellectual Disabilities

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A good public relations chairmanshould always be looking for additionalways of publicizing and promoting theactivities of his council. In addition to theusual media — council bulletin, townnewspaper, radio, television, Columbia —consider using some of these newsoutlets:

• Local Plant and IndustryPublications. Employee publicationsof the industries in your town areoften interested in news of clubs towhich employees belong. Call theeditor to find out if he or she usessuch news.

• Outdoor Advertising. The outdooradvertising industry contributesspace annually on both a nationaland local basis. Local groups mayget space by contacting anddiscussing the merits of theirprogram with a member of theOutdoor Advertising Association ofAmerica, Inc., in their city or area.If the member’s name is notknown, it can be obtained bywriting to: OAAA, Inc., 1850 MStreet, NW, Suite 1040,Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 833-5566, or www.oaaa.org. The Orderpromotes, or makes available atreasonable cost, billboardspromoting issues such as “KeepChrist in Christmas,” pro-life, etc.

• Free-Shopping News. These weeklyor semi-monthly “handouts”concentrate on food store and otherretail advertising. Besidesadvertising, some also carry news.

• Direct Mail. Postcard mailings allowcouncils to target a chosenaudience with a succinct message.Postcards are good reminders forvoter registration; elections; voterreferendums; bazaars; benefits;rummage sales; fraternal, churchand school affairs.

• Posters. Attractive window postersbuild awareness of special events.Enlist the talents of the artists inyour council, hire a professional todesign a poster, or use posterssupplied by the Supreme Counciloffice. Always remove posters assoon as the event they publicize isover. This gives you a chance tothank those who displayed themand to report on the success of theevent.

• Resort and Convention Publicity. Inmany resort and convention cities,the chamber of commercepublishes leaflets for visitors listingevents of interest. These aredistributed through hotels andmotels in the area.

• Hand Bills, Community BulletinBoards, Cruising Loud Speakers.These are popular in some towns;frowned upon in others. Checktheir acceptability in your area.

Other Public Relations Possibilities

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Sample Press Release

Print on council letterhead, including a local contact person and filling in specific information fromyour council. Supreme Council data is available from the Supreme Council Department of FraternalServices (1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326, telephone: 203-752-4270).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information contact:(Name, phone number, e-mail address)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GAVE (dollar amount), (number of hours) HOURS TOCHARITABLE WORK IN (year)

(Name of City, State/Province, Mailing Date) — The Knights of Columbus from (name of council)

Council (number) in (city) gave (dollar amount) and (number) hours in personal service to charitable

and benevolent activities in (year), according to the organization’s Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity.

The figures were released by Knights of Columbus Grand Knight (full name). “These totals

represent a remarkable outpouring of generosity — not only in money but in personal commitment on

the part of Knights in (city),” (last name) said.

The Knights of Columbus is an international Catholic lay organization with more than 1.8 million

members in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Poland, and several other

countries.

There are (number) Knights of Columbus members in Council (number).

Internationally, state and local units of the organization volunteered (total volunteer hours) hours

to programs and projects serving the Church and communities, and contributed (total $) to charitable

and benevolent causes in (year), according to reports from (number) percent of the local units.

For Council (number), the (dollar amount) in contributions by members included (dollar

amount) to youth activities, (dollar amount) to church and community activities, as well as other

worthwhile causes.

The average per capita contribution of members of the Knights of Columbus from Council

(number) during (year) was (amount).

During (year), council members also gave an additional (hours) hours in service to sick or

disabled members of their families. The survey showed (number) visits to the sick and bereaved by

these Knights in (year) and (number) blood donors.

(more)

Appendix

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CHARITABLE WORK PAGE 2

In a statement issued at the Order’s international headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut,

Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, the organization’s chief executive officer,

called the (year) figures on service and contributions by members “a record of remarkable generosity

by Catholic laymen committed to the highest ideals of service to their Church and their communities.”

“The Order’s monetary contributions are noteworthy and commendable, but even more worthy of

note is the record of personal service by members. This truly is charity in action,” Anderson said.

With more than 1.8 million members, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay

organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the

Catholic Church, the community, families, and young people. In (year), the Knights of Columbus at all

levels of the organization raised and distributed $(number) million to charity and rendered (number)

million hours of volunteer service.

# # #

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Sample Press ReleasePrint on council letterhead, including a local contact person and filling in specific information from

your council.


KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS

(City, State/Province — Date) — (Name of council) Knights of Columbus Council (number) in

(city) today announced its new officers for (year).

The officers are: Grand Knight or local president (name/town), Chaplain (name/town), Deputy

Grand Knight (name/town), Chancellor (name/town), and Recorder (name/town).

Other officers named are: Financial Secretary (name/town), Treasurer (name/town), Lecturer

(name/town), Advocate (name/town), Warden (name/town), and Guards (names/towns).

The Board of Trustees includes: (names/towns).

Grand Knight (last name) has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for (number) years,

serving in the positions of (list positions). A resident of (city), Grand Knight (last name) is

(occupation, company and location). He resides at (address) with his (wife/children, list names).






# # #

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Sample Press ReleasePrint on council letterhead, including a local contact person and filling in specific information from

your council.


KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNOUNCESYOUTH FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP

(City, State/Province — Date) — The Knights of Columbus from (name of council) Council

(number) in (city) will host a local competition for the Knights of Columbus International Free Throw

Championship to be held on (time) (date) at (location).

Open to all boys and girls ages 10 to 14, the Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually by

the Knights of Columbus. Winners progress through local, district and state/province level

competitions. International champions, judged on scores from state competitions, are announced by

the Knights of Columbus international headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut.

(Insert paragraph on benefits and awards for the program.)

All participants must furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For entry forms or

additional information, contact (information).






# # #

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Sample Press ReleasePrint on council letterhead, including a local contact person, and filling in specific information

from your council.


LOCAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL RECEIVES TOP AWARD

(City, State/Province — Date) Knights of Columbus Council (number) in (city) has received the

distinction of Star Council, the international organization’s top award for local councils.

The Star Council award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership, promotion of the

fraternal insurance program, and sponsorship of service-oriented activities.

The award was presented to the membership by (title and name of presenter) at a special

ceremony held on (date).

(Insert paragraph on council programs and accomplishments.)






# # #

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Sample Press ReleasePrint on council letterhead, including a local contact person, and filling in specific information

from your council.


KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNOUNCESSUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS POSTER CONTEST

(City, State/Province — Date) Knights of Columbus Council (number) in (city) will sponsor a local

competition for the Knights of Columbus Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest.

All young people ages 8 through 14 are invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus Substance

Abuse Awareness Poster Contest. Students are encouraged to develop an original poster and slogan idea

designed to discourage their peers from experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

The Knights of Columbus Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest is an annual competition

with winning entries progressing to local, district, state/province, and international levels of

competition. There will be a division for youngsters ages 8 to 11 and a division for youngsters ages 12

to 14.

All contestants will be recognized for their participation. For entry forms or additional information

contact your school principal or (information).






# # #

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Sample Media AlertPrint on council letterhead, including a local contact person, and specific information from your

council.

MEDIA ALERT For more information contact:(Name, phone number, e-mail address)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS INTERNATIONAL FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP

WHAT: (community name) youth compete in the Knights of Columbus International Free ThrowBasketball Championship.

WHERE: (name and address of location)

WHEN: (date and time)

WHY: (insert benefits of contest)

VISUALS: Boys and girls aged 10 through 14 from throughout (name of community) give basketballfree throws their best shot.

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Sample Public Service AnnouncementPrint on council letterhead and include local contact information.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

(City, State)

(Date)

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SPONSORS CPR TRAINING PROGRAM

CPR CAN SAVE LIVES. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, IN COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICAN

HEART ASSOCIATION, IS SPONSORING A SPECIAL CPR WORKSHOP ON MARCH 23 AT ST. JOSEPH’S

HIGH SCHOOL FROM 9AM UNTIL 4PM. TO REGISTER CALL (PHONE NUMBER). YOU CAN LEARN

CPR. PLEASE DO. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

TIME: 30 SECONDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

(NAME, PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS)

Sample Photo CaptionProvide a printed photo caption, identifying the people from left to right, with the photo file.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DONATES COMPUTERS

(City, State/Province — Date)

(Name), a resident at the (name) home for people with intellectual disabilities, works at a

personal computer with Grand Knight (full name). Funds for the purchase of computer equipment

were donated by (name of council) Knights of Columbus Council (number) in (city).

For More Information Contact:

(name, phone number, e-mail address)

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TIPS FOR BETTER PHOTOS D O …Wear your Knights ofColumbus gear! If yourmembers have T-shirts,aprons or other itemsprinted with the emblemof the Order, encouragethem to wear these itemsat your events. But don’tsend photos with embed -ded information such assmaller photos or word -ing on them (includingdate- and time-stamps),or collages of photos.

D O …Take a photograph of the program or item that the funds your council raisedhelped purchase: children withcoats, students using new computers, Knights dishing out food, etc.

A N D , D O …Get close to the action. Whenyou think you’re too close,move a bit closer. People’sfaces are perhaps the most in -teresting part of a photo; theyshould be prominent.

ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA HANDY — you never know when a good photo will present itself at a Knights of Columbus event.

COMPOSITION: When composing your photo make sure that thereare no distracting items in the background (i.e. a flag appearing to come out of the top of someone’s head), that the central figures are not in shadows oroddly lit (use your flash, even outside, if necessary and keep in mind the limited range of a flash).

SUBMITTING PHOTOS: Generally, newspapers and other media(including the Knights of Columbus publications) will accept photos via e-mail.They should be sent as separate attached jpeg files and not embedded as partof a Word document. Photos that are sent embedded in other files or througha third-party online photo service often cannot be downloaded at a highenough resolution. Images should be at least 5.5 inches wide with a resolutionof 300 dpi or greater. The greater the resolution, the better the image will reproduce in print. Be sure to include caption information in the e-mail. Also, DO NOT SEND PHOTOS FROM PHONE CAMERAS OR POLAROIDS. Both of these produce photos that are too poor a quality to print well.

Here are some other Do’s and Don’ts:

O T H E RT I P S …Action photos illustrate the activity.Photos of people lined up in rowsstaring back at the camera are not ac -tion photos and do not depict all ofthe ways the Knights are active in theparish and community. Similarly,photos of check presentations, “grip-and-grins,” or the “line up” may beeasy to arrange, but are not veryimaginative. Show readers how yourcouncil is helping people through thefunds you’ve worked so hard to raise;don’t show them a signed check. Limitthe number of people in each shotand, as we’ve said before, avoid thegrip-and-grins. But if you absolutelymust, at least make sure the K of Cbranding is prominent!

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Rules Governing the use of the Nameand Emblem of the Order

Under the rules of the Board ofDirectors governing the use of the nameand emblem of the Order, the followingapply:

a. The name or emblem of the Order,the name of any state orsubordinate council, chapter orassembly, the number of anycouncil or the words council,chapter or assembly shall not beused on or in connection with anypublication without permission ofthe Board of Directors.

b. Such publication shall plainly statethat it is the organ of the state orsubordinate council, chapter orassembly and not of the Order atlarge.

c. The publication shall be theproperty of the state orsubordinate council, chapter orassembly, and all receipts anddisbursements in connection withthe publishing of such paper shallbe handled in the same manner asother monies of the state orsubordinate council, chapter orassembly.

d. If published by a state council, thepublication shall be subject tocensorship by the state deputy; ifby a subordinate council, by thestate deputy and grand knight; ifby a chapter, by the state deputyor president of the chapter; if byan assembly, by the master andfaithful navigator; and such statedeputy or other officers shall beheld responsible for all matter,including advertising, publishedtherein.

e. Assessments by state orsubordinate councils, chapters orassemblies for the purpose ofpublishing such paper shall beillegal.

f. The emblem of the Order and thename “Knights of Columbus” shallnot be used in connection withany emblem, other than thenational flag or emblem of thecountry, or in connection with anyname other than the name of thestate or subordinate council orother branch of the Order.

g. A copy of each regular and specialnumber of the publication shall befiled with the supreme secretary.

h. The provisions of subdivision 6, 7,9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 22 and 23 ofSection 162 of the Laws of theOrder shall be strictly observed;the applicable portions thereofbeing as follows:

6. Willful insubordination, contemptor disobedience of the lawful ordersof superior authority;

7. Giving scandal, scandalous conductor practice unbecoming a member ofthis Order;

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9. Speaking, writing, printing orpublishing any matter or statementwhich shall be deemed to bedetrimental to the harmony and goodorder of the Knights of Columbus, ortending to create discord anddissension among the members orcreate public scandal, or causing thesame to be done;

10. Sending to subordinate councils,state councils, or their officers ormembers or to delegates to statecouncils or the Supreme Councilwritten or printed matter orstatements tending to defame or bringinto disrepute officers or directors ofthe Order or decisions, rulings oractions of the officers or directors ofthe Order or its policies withoutpermission of the Board of Directors;

11. Using the name Knights ofColumbus or his membership in theOrder in connection with anybusiness, social or other enterprise,without permission of the Board ofDirectors;

18. Improperly using the name of theOrder or without authorityrepresenting the Order;

19. Making unjust or false statements,accusations or personal defamation ofor against any officer of the Order inhis official capacity;

22. Issuance of appeals for aid orcontributions within the state, districtor territory, without the consent andapproval of the state or territorialdeputy; or outside the state, districtor territory, without the approval ofthe Board of Directors;

23. Issuing appeals for, or solicitingby virtue of his membership in theKnights of Columbus, aid, orassistance or support by or in behalfof or announcing candidates for office(including delegates to state andsupreme councils) in another societyor body or in the Order. Any memberwho knowingly permits or acquiescesin such appeal, solicitation, etc. shall,if elected, be ineligible to hold office.

i. No subscriptions or advertisingshall be solicited other than in thestate jurisdiction or council,chapter or assembly district inwhich the publication is issued.

j. The publication of politicaladvertisements or announcementsof candidates for public office orfor office in another society or inthe Order is not permitted.

k. The publication of advertisementsof beer, wine or liquor or ofestablishments designed as placeswhere they are sold is notpermitted.

These rules are in effect and apply toany publication presently in existence orthat may come into existence in thefuture.

The name “Knights of Columbus” andthe emblem of the Order are protected byfederal trademark law. This protection isvested in the Supreme Council.

Knights of Columbus Clip Art images,whether printed or in electronic form, areproperty of the Knights of Columbus andare protected by state and federal law.They are only to be used as directed bythe Supreme Council.

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Sample Photo Permission ReleaseRELEASE FORM

I, ____________________________________________________________________________ , do herebygive KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, it assigns, licensees, and legal representatives the irrevocable right touse my name, picture, portrait, or photograph in all forms and media and in all manners, includingcomposite representations, for trade, educational, public relations, or any other lawful purposes, and Iwaive any right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written copy, that may be createdin connection therewith. I am of full age. I have read this release and am fully familiar with its contents.(Under age 18, parent or guardian sign.)

Witness: _________________________________________________________________________________

Signed: __________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

For: _____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________ 20 _______

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Media Contacts

__________________________________Media Organization

__________________________________________________Contact Name

__________________________________________________Street Address

__________________________________________________City, State/Province, Postal Code

__________________________________________________Phone # Best time to contact

__________________________________________________E-mail

__________________________________________________Deadline

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Documents

Getting Your Message Across...Press or News Release A press or news release is a written announcement of a newsworthy activity or program for distribution to the print media (newspapers