Getting your school on TV news can be an excellent way to showcase your school’s unique programs and initiatives to a wider audience. With the right approach, you can attract the attention of local news outlets and highlight the great work that your school is doing. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step process for getting your K-8 school activity on TV news.

1. Identify the newsworthy event: Getting your school on TV news begins with identifying an event or program that has an interesting angle or element that can capture the attention of viewers. This could be a community service project, a school-wide competition, or a unique educational program. Make sure the event has a human interest story, something that can touch the heartstrings of your audience.
2. Contact community partners: If your school doesn’t have a public relations office, consider getting in touch with your community contacts, such as local government officials or community organizations. They may be able to help your quest of getting your school on TV News through local news outlets or provide advice on how to get your event noticed. Be sure to explain why the event is newsworthy and highlight any unique angles or elements that can make it stand out.
3. Write a press release: A press release is an essential tool for getting your event noticed by the media. Craft a press release that highlights the key elements of the event, why it’s newsworthy, and any quotes from school officials or students involved in the activity.
4. Contact local TV news outlets: Research local TV news outlets that cover education or community news. Reach out to them via email or phone and let them know about the newsworthy event at the K-8 school. Provide a copy of the press release and offer to arrange an interview or provide additional information.
5. Coordinate with school administration: Coordinate with the school to make sure that they are aware your are getting your school on TV news. This will help facilitate administrative interviews and ensure easy access for the media to the event. This may involve scheduling interviews with several school officials or arranging for news crews to run footage at the school.
6. Follow up: After the event has taken place, you can follow up with the news outlets to see if they covered the story and if there’s any additional information or footage that they need. Be sure to thank them for sharing your story with their viewers and provide any additional resources that they may need.

Please note that most news stations cannot provide your school with a copy of the news report. If the story is not posted online for free, you may need to contact a news monitoring agency to track down the clip and send you a link. There will be a fee involved, which can range from $50 to $200 or more. Sylvia Marketing & Public Relations clients can get deeply discounted clips due to our relationship with certain news monitoring agencies.

Here’s what to watch for when seeking a clip: If the station sent a reporter, that means your story will likely be a feature between 90 seconds and five minutes. News stations typically post feature stories on their websites, so you do not need to buy a clip. If the station sends a cameraperson only, your clip will probably be about 20 seconds and probably won’t be posted online. Some stations may post your story on their YouTube channel. Station policies vary, so be sure to do a Google search the day after your event to determine if your story was posted online.

Conclusion: Getting your school on TV news can be a great way to showcase your school’s programs and initiatives to a wider audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of getting noticed by local news outlets and attracting the attention of viewers. Remember to highlight the unique angles or elements of your event, and be sure to coordinate with your school and local news outlets to make sure everything runs smoothly. With a little effort, you can get your school activity on TV news and make a positive impact in your community.