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diff --git a/docs/running/example_press_releases.md b/docs/running/example_press_releases.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..9a68cfd87 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/running/example_press_releases.md @@ -0,0 +1,316 @@ +--- +layout: page +title: Example press releases +author: myf+dave +--- + +# Example press releases + +Here are templates for two types of press release: one [for national +media](#national) and one [for local media](#local). These templates show you +what to include in a standard press release. + +Adapt the wording so that it’s suitable for your project — or of course, you +may wish to write your own press releases from scratch. + +Then send it to your media contacts, as described in our +[guide to promoting FixMyStreet]({{ "/running/promotion" | relative_url }}). + +It’s best to copy and paste the text into the body of an email, rather than +send it as an attachment: journalists say that they are far more likely to read +an email than an attachment. + +<a name="national"> </a> + +## Press release 1: For national media + +<input type="button" class="toggle-button" value="Show/hide explanations" data-target="national-press-release"/> + +<div class="mock-document" id="national-press-release"> + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Headline: Put a large headline at the top; you can also use the same + wording as the title of your emails, prefaced by the words: PRESS RELEASE. + </p> + <p> + You don’t have to use this sentence, but try to think of a short + statement that will attract journalists’ attention as well as explaining + what your site will do. + </p> + </div> + + <h2><span class="replace-text">[Your site’s name]</span>: a new way to get your community fixed</h2> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + If you would like to send your press release before launch, to give + journalists a little time to write their story, include an embargo + date/time. That means they won’t publish anything until this date. + Typically embargo times are given as 12:01am. + </p> + </div> + <h3>EMBARGO: <span class="replace-text">[Date/time]</span></h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Include the URL of your FixMyStreet site, and any other URL that’s + useful, eg your organisation’s website. + </p> + </div> + <h3>LINK/S: <span class="replace-text">[URLs]</span></h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Your name and email address/phone number + </p> + </div> + <h3>CONTACT: <span class="replace-text">[hello@example.org]</span></h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Three or four bullet points which summarise the main content of the press + release. If you have a quote from a councillor or mayor, so much the + better, but if not, it’s fine to quote yourself. + </p> + </div> + <uL> + <li> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> launches today + </li> + </uL> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + List the most common problems in your own country: + </p> + </div> + + <ul> + <li> + Report potholes, broken pavements and other community problems to the + authorities responsible for getting them fixed + </li> + </ul> + <ul> + <li> + “A revolution in citizen to government communication” says founder + </li> + </ul> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + This is the main body of your press release. Keep it fairly succinct: + 5–10 paragraphs of 1–2 sentences each is plenty. You can, of + course, alter the text to make it more appropriate to your country’s own + circumstances. + </p> + </div> + + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of your site]</span>, a new and simple way + for citizens to report street faults, launches today. + </p> + <p> + Most people know that it’s the council’s job to fix problems like potholes, + dangerous pavements or broken street lights. But reporting such problems + can often be a difficult task. People don’t always know which council area + they are in. Even if they do, they’re often faced with a lack of + information online, or hard-to-navigate web forms. + </p> + <p> + Now, a new website simplifies the process for people in <span + class="replace-text">[name of your country or the area that your site + covers]</span>. + </p> + <p> + With <span class="replace-text">[name of your site]</span>, a project from + <span class="replace-text">[your organisation]</span>, all the user has to + do is put a pin in a map to show where the problem is, then add a few lines + of text to describe the issue. Optionally, they can also add a photo. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> sends the issue to the + right department of the right council: the user doesn’t even have to know + which jurisdiction they are in. From the council’s side, responding to the + problem report is as simple as replying to any other email. + </p> + <p> + Reports are already flooding in, including <span class="replace-text">[list + some interesting existing reports, with links]</span>. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> also publishes all reports + online, eventually building into a rich resource showing what the prevalent + types of problem are in any area. The site uses the FixMyStreet Platform + open source software, which has proven effective in the UK and across more + than 20 other countries around the world. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Your name]</span>, <span + class="replace-text">[your job title or description]</span>, says, “<span + class="replace-text">[add a quote here]</span>”. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> is ready to send off your + street fault reports: give it a try at <span + class="replace-text">[URL]</span>. + </p> +</div> + +<a name="local"> </a> + +## Press release 2: For regional/local media + +<input type="button" class="toggle-button" value="Show/hide explanations" data-target="local-press-release"/> + +<div class="mock-document" id="local-press-release"> + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Headline: Put a large headline at the top; you can also use the same + wording as the title of your emails, prefaced by the words: PRESS RELEASE. + </p> + <p> + You don’t have to use this sentence, but try to think of a short + statement that will attract journalists’ attention as well as explaining + what your site will do. Include the name of the local area so they can + see how relevant it is to their audience. + </p> + </div> + <h2> + <span class="replace-text">[Your site’s name]</span>: a new way to get + <span class="replace-text">[city or county name]</span> fixed + </h2> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + If you would like to send your press release before launch, to give + journalists a little time to write their story, include an embargo + date/time. That means they won’t publish anything until this date. + Typically embargo times are given as 12:01am. + </p> + </div> + <h3> + EMBARGO: <span class="replace-text">[Date/time]</span> + </h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Include the URL of your FixMyStreet site, and any other URL that’s + useful, eg your organisation’s website. + </p> + </div> + <h3> + LINK/S: <span class="replace-text">[URLs]</span> + </h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Your name and email address/phone number + </p> + </div> + <h3> + CONTACT: <span class="replace-text">[hello@example.org]</span> + </h3> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + Three or four bullet points which summarise the main content of the press + release. If you have a quote from a councillor or mayor, so much the + better, but if not, it’s fine to quote yourself. + </p> + </div> + <ul> + <li> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> launches today + </li> + </ul> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + List the most common problems in your own country: + </p> + </div> + <ul> + <li> + Now it’s simple for residents of <span class="replace-text">[city or + county name]</span> to report potholes, broken pavements and other + community problems + </li> + </ul> + + <ul> + <li> + “Let’s get <span class="replace-text">[name of city or county]</span> + fixed”, says founder + </li> + </ul> + + <div class="attention-box helpful-hint"> + <p> + This is the main body of your press release. Keep it fairly succinct: + 5–10 paragraphs of 1–2 sentences is plenty. You can, of + course, alter the text to make it more appropriate to your country’s own + circumstances. + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of your site]</span>, a new and simple way + for <span class="replace-text">[city or county name]</span> to report + street faults, launches today. + </p> + <p> + Most people know that it’s the council’s job to fix problems like potholes, + dangerous pavements or broken street lights <span class="replace-text">[or + substitute the common problems in that region]</span>. But reporting such + problems can often be a difficult task. People don’t always know which + council department to contact. Even if they do, they’re often faced with a + lack of information online, or hard-to-navigate web forms. + </p> + <p> + Now, a new website simplifies the process for people in <span + class="replace-text">[city or county name]</span>. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of your site]</span>, a project from <span + class="replace-text">[your organisation]</span>, covers the whole of <span + class="replace-text">[the country/name of city]</span>, using smart + technology to send problems to the department responsible for getting them + fixed. + </p> + <p> + All the user has to do is put a pin in a map to show where the problem is, + then add a few lines of text to describe the issue. Optionally, they can + also add a photo. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> sends the issue to the + right department of the council: the user doesn’t even have to know which + jurisdiction they are in. From the council’s side, responding to the + problem report is as simple as replying to any other email. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> also publishes all reports + online, eventually building into a rich resource showing what the prevalent + types of problem are in any area. Residents of <span + class="replace-text">[city/county name]</span> have already reported issues + such as <span class="replace-text">[list some existing reports, with + links]</span>. + </p> + <p> + The site uses the FixMyStreet Platform open source software, which has + proven effective in the UK and across more than 20 other countries around + the world. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Your name]</span>, <span + class="replace-text">[your job title or description]</span>, says, “<span + class="replace-text">[add a quote here, perhaps mentioning the city or + county]</span>”. + </p> + <p> + <span class="replace-text">[Name of site]</span> is ready to send off your + street fault reports: give it a try at <span + class="replace-text">[URL]</span>. + </p> + +</div> |