New experience with media relations and communication.

Last month on top of day-to-day marketing activities, I was involved in the promotion of the Neotechnology fundraising BBQ for the people of Haiti. This was an exciting experience for me as it provided different and new challenges than my normal marketing role with Amicus. My main role in the BBQ was to design the promotional materials such as an advertising flyer letting people know the reason for the BBQ and the date and time, and another one to advertise a raffle and the prizes.

The main reason for my excitement was the experience of trying to get media coverage for the event. Shirly Sareyka was able to recommend some contacts at the various news stations and instructed me on the process of receiving media attention. The first thing required is to write a media release. I attempted this and sent it to Shirly and quickly found there is a specific format required before it will even be considered. With Shirly’s modifications I faxed the media release to the news stations and was surprised when both WIN and Southern Cross news arrived.

The BBQ was a huge success, raising much needed money for the relief effort in Haiti, and also for me personally as I gained valuable experience in media relations and promotions. Both news stations ran a short story covering the BBQ so the media release and promotion did the trick.