GETTING REPORTERS INTERESTED

Local personal stories
The best approach to interest reporters is to find out what is happening with individuals touched by the abortion issue. Those stories will appeal to a press corps who are tired of rhetoric. Use the broadcast as an opportunity to have reporters interview 'non-spokespersons.' They might be women willing to speak about the challenges and dangers of seeking out back-alley abortions, or physicians who practiced prior to Roe v. Wade and treated women who had botched abortions. They might be medical personnel working in local women's health centers today who can talk about the erosion of access in the community or possibly the rise of harassment in recent years.

Some of the interviewees in the videos may feel unfamiliar to viewers in your area because those telling their stories don't come from your community.  If reporters can hear from people who live in your area, that will help residents, people who reporters are trying to reach, understand that the struggle for reproductive rights is taking place everywhere, including in your community.  Local people can also talk about what impact the films had on themselves personally.  Did learning about the historical context of the abortion issue put personal memories into perspective?  Were activists reminded of their participation in legalizing abortion?  How do the documentaries  affect clinic workers and volunteers who maintain access to safe abortions now?  Look for interesting human interest angles and let reporters know what they are. 

D. Media Advisories
Fax, e-mail or mail one or more Press Advisories about the broadcasts or community screenings. Reporters are interested in community events and screenings that are timely. Use the MEDIA ADVISORY to craft one of your own and send it to identified reporters, talk show producers and news editors about two weeks in advance of your event. It is crucial that you follow up a few days before the broadcast or screening with a phone call. If a reporter is coming, make sure all those participating in the event know that reporters have been invited, and make sure you identify press with special name tags. Suggest that all participants have some key messages in mind before speaking to any reporters. Provide reporters with fact sheets about abortion issues, and about your organization. 

E. Write Letters
Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper about the documentaries and your organization's commitment to keeping reproductive choices safe and legal (see SAMPLE LETTER). Once the films are shown on television or reviewed in the paper, write to tell the editor your impression of the films and acknowledge the publication's willingness to report about the videos. To improve the chances of your letter getting printed, look at letters that appear in that paper and tailor yours to the space restrictions. Be sure to sign your name, and include your address and phone number. Most papers will not print unsigned letters. Letters to the editor should be no more than two short paragraphs. Be specific. Focus on how the issues highlighted in the film are important in your community.