Rotary International District 1270
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Home | Polio | POLIOPLUS HEADLINER KIT for Rotary Clubs
POLIOPLUS HEADLINER KIT
Every day, we come closer to the goal of a polio-free world. Now, more than ever, it's important to raise awareness of the need to eradicate polio, and Rotary's contributions to this historic health drive. Local media coverage is an effective means of delivering Rotary's message to the world.
The PolioPlus Headliner Kit contains PR elements that Rotary clubs can tailor to reflect their local involvement in Rotary's PolioPlus program. These materials will give media outlets a local news angle on the global polio eradication story.
Here are some tips on media outreach:
Identify Media Targets
Before sending stories to a journalist, get to know their outlets. Read your local newspaper and watch television programs to identify particular columns or segments (such as a health or philanthropy section) where a story on Rotary's role in polio eradication story could be placed.
Develop a Media List
After identifying media targets, put together a contact list for each story that includes the names, phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of journalists, editors, or news directors who might take a special interest in Rotary. Larger newspapers or broadcast stations may have departments or reporters specializing in certain topics, such as health or community volunteers, which would be the best fit for a polio-related story.
Contact the Media
You can take your story to the media several ways. Whatever approach you choose, be persuasive, persistent, and friendly- but not aggressive. The most effective methods depend on the journalist's preferences. Here are some suggested approaches: e-mail, phone, fax, mail, personalized letter, and press kit.
Conduct Interviews with the Media
Journalists are always looking for good human-interest stories. Equally valuable is a knowledgeable messenger. Develop informed, articulate spokespeople who are easily accessible and well-versed about Rotary's PolioPlus program.
CONTENTS
- Sample Feature Story
- Sample Opinion Piece
- Sample Letter-to-the-Editor
- Sample Press Release: Global
- Sample Press Release: National Immunization Day
- Sample Press Release: Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge
- Additional Resources: Beyond Traditional Media
Sample Feature Story
Newspapers and magazines often want to cover Rotary stories, but due to time and staff constraints, they may be unable to assign a reporter. In some cases, they may accept a pre-written news story. Here are some tips for submitting a feature story to local print publications:
· Call the publication to request the name and contact information of the Features Editor.
· Mail, e-mail, or fax the feature story to the Features Editor. Include a brief introduction, asking the Features Editor to review the article for consideration in the news publication.
PUSHING POLIO TO THE BRINK OF ERADICATION
Rotary clubs take on $200 million challenge from the Gates Foundation
Rotary clubs here and around the world are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve a world free of the crippling disease polio. A major part of that effort is to raise $200 million in response to a challenge grant of $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
That may seem a daunting task, but Rotary's track record shows it can be done with perseverance and hard work. Since launching its landmark PolioPlus Program in 1985, the volunteer service organization already has contributed nearly $800 million to the cause, not to mention countless volunteer hours logged by Rotary members.
[Insert local Rotarians who have participated and use this space to highlight local polio-related projects and fundraisers.]
Although the polio epidemic may be a distant memory to many-- cases have been slashed by 99 percent worldwide -- it still threatens children in parts of Africa and South Asia.
[Add quote from local Rotarians involved in polio eradication efforts and polio-related fundraisers]
Indeed, for as little as 60 cents worth of oral polio vaccine, a child can be protected for life.
However, a major funding gap now faces the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, of which Rotary is a spearheading partner (along with the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF). Twenty years of steady progress is at stake, and polio -- now on the ropes -- stands to stage a dangerous comeback unless the funding gap is bridged.
In response to the funding crisis, Rotary eagerly accepted a US$355 million challenge grant from the Gates Foundation, which Rotary will match with an additional US$200 million over three years, raising a much needed US$555 million, all of it dedicated to polio eradication.
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