How to Get Media Attention

Letters to the editor are a great vehicle to respond to breaking news coverage concerning Darfur or to tell the editor that you want additional coverage about the conflict. Letters should be short and concise; 150 to 200 words maximum. Read our guide to writing a letter to the editor.

Write an Op-ed

The best op-eds simultaneously provide background information and a unique opinion or idea. An op-ed is more likely to be accepted by a newspaper if it is written by a well-known community member. Depending on your news outlet, it may consider running a well written piece by a grassroots activist. Before you write your op-ed, you should approach your local newspaper as they often have specific procedures and rules regarding the publication of opinions pieces from the community. This will also give you an opportunity to gauge their interest in your piece. Read our guide to writing an op-ed. 

Blog Postings

Four out of ten internet users now read blogs regularly. Increasingly, for many of these readers, blogs serve as their primary source of news. You can increase coverage of Darfur in the blogosphere by posting about Darfur-related events you attend, offering comments on articles and editorials you read about the conflict, or issuing your own opinion pieces about the crisis. If you do not have your own blog, you can post blog entries on community blogs. Once you have posted an entry about Darfur, continue the conversation by urging others to post their own comments and asking other bloggers to consider linking to your post on their blog.

Press Tips for Events

If you are hosting a Darfur event, then you should devote some of your time to making sure the event gets local media attention. That way, even beyond the people who come to your event, you will be raising awareness about Darfur in your community. Check out our tips for getting the press to cover your local event.