Read it

• Read a week's worth of the local paper to identify useful regular features, eg a weekly feature on shopping which would be relevant to Make Trade Fair.
• Cut out relevant articles from local papers and see who the journalist is to help you to build up useful contacts.
• Journalists like people to know what they've done.
  Don't forget local newsletters and magazines.

Listen to it

• Listen to local radio at different times to see where Make Trade Fair stories would best fit. Find out if there are phone-in programmes.
• Find out who the presenters are, so that you sound knowledgeable even if you can't listen. Ring the radio station or look on the website to find out.

Use your news

• Eighty per cent of media releases end up in the bin.
• You must find the news story: something topical and local. Make Trade Fair is not interesting unless something is happening locally, or if it has real local relevance, or it involves someone from your community.
• See if it 'works' as news by writing a headline and see if you would read it:

News is:

• Events
• Research and statistics
• Local dignitaries or celebrities supporting a campaign
• Calls for people to join a campaign to do something specific
• Links to national or international events or days can also help: Fairtrade Fortnight, International Human Rights Day, Universal Children's Day can form media 'hooks' combined with interesting local information or action.

Next:
Making news