Press releases are statements that inform reporters about noteworthy information that affects the community, and are excellent tools to give reporters updates about safe infant sleep strategies.
Effective press releases are timely, present something that impacts the outlet’s audience, offer local news, give useful information, highlight the human interest angle, or feature a well-known or respected community member or organization. If an outlet you are targeting produces news in a language other than English, be sure to provide your press release in that language.
Found “opposite the editorial page,” op-ed articles appear in most print and online versions of ethnic newspapers and create an opportunity for you to express your thoughts about the reality of safe infant sleep, correct common misperceptions about it and offer strategies for safe sleep promotion in your community. Consider connecting your op-ed to broader themes related to child and maternal health and family wellness. Remember, op-eds need to offer an opinion about something that is happening in your community.
Op-eds should begin with a powerful introductory statement that captures the reader’s interest by connecting your thoughts to recent events. Effective op-eds clearly express an opinion, cite evidence to prove your point and mention specific people. The final paragraph and closing argument serve as your last opportunity to draw readers to your point of view. They also offer solutions to the problem, repeat the idea of the introduction and remind readers of the relevance of your issue.
Guidelines for submitting op-eds can often be found on the outlet’s website, but note that op-eds should be no longer than 800 words and can appear in both print and online outlets. If the outlet you are targeting with your op-ed produces stories in a language other than English, be prepared to submit your op-ed in that language as well, even if the author isn’t fluent in it. Even some television stations offer community forums where their viewers can share their opinions on local news. Some newspapers, like smaller ethnic publications, offer guest columns if they don’t have a traditional op-ed page.
Get creative and you can find countless opportunities to place opinion pieces. Just remember that each op-ed is exclusive to the outlet where it first appears, and can only be reprinted with permission from that outlet.
