Media interest in World Environment Day is expected to be high because it is such an internationally recognised event and because New Zealand is hosting it for the first time. To make the most of this media interest, you need to be include media planning in the planning for your event/activity.
This information sheet provides advice on how you can inform the public about your activity or event. It also provides some key messages you can include in your promotion (see overleaf).
World Environment Day is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the great things New Zealand is doing locally, nationally and internationally to reduce the impacts of climate change. Remember, what you are doing to encourage environmental awareness and sustainability is important, and sending the message out as far and wide as you can is the idea behind World Environment Day.
Here are some simple steps you can take:
- Contact (by phone initially) your local newspaper, community magazine and local radio station to let them know in advance what you are doing. Invite them to send a reporter (for the print media also invite a photographer) along to cover the event.
- If your local paper and/or radio station can’t send a reporter, email, fax or deliver to them in person a written article/media release about your activity/event. It should be
- no more than one A4 page, double spaced
- have a heading which will capture their interest
- answer the questions who, what, where, when, how and why
- include the contact details of a person who can supply more information.
- If you are organising a community-wide, large-scale event, television reporters might be interested. Get in touch with your regional council and ask them to send a media advisory to their media contacts. A media advisory is less formal than a media release. It is a brief explanation of the activity or event taking place, the reason for it, the day, time and the place it is happening is all that is required.
- It is also worthwhile placing a notice about your event in local libraries, information centres, schools, and other public places to alert people to what you are doing and to generate support.
- Last but not least, don’t forget to register your event on the World Environment Day website (www.world.environment.govt.nz). There will be information on this website about other events taking place within your region which you may be able to take part in.
Some KEY MESSAGES for World Environment Day 2008 which may be helpful when promoting your event:
- Climate change affects everyone.
- Climate change will bring challenges that will affect us for generations. We need to act now to reduce its impact.
- Reducing the amount of carbon we emit will help us to protect and enhance our economy, environment, and way of life.
- There are many simple things we can do today that will reduce the amount of carbon we produce such as using more efficient light bulbs, switching the television off at the wall and taking public transport, carpooling or walking instead of taking the car.
- Reducing carbon emissions makes good environmental and economic sense and can bring a number of wider benefits. For example, using energy more efficiently means you pay for less electricity, gas and petrol; tuning your car improves air quality and health; and insulating your home will make it warmer and you healthier.
- Reducing carbon emissions now is vital because it will make it much easier for us to adapt to a changing climate later.
- We all have a role to play in reducing carbon emissions and our impact on the environment.
- Whether in the household or business, taking small sustainable steps everyday will lead to a better New Zealand in every way.
- New Zealand has more than two thousand schools, and each has an impact on the environment. The opportunity for us is that even by taking small actions the education sector can make a real contribution.
- World Environment Day is a great opportunity to highlight and learn more about environmental issues.
For more information visit our website: www.world.environment.govt.nz
