Media Resources
How to promote your event to the media
Why support a media campaign?
Using the media is a very effective and cost-efficient way to get your message over to the widest possible audience in your area.
Having put a lot of effort into organising your World Heart Rhythm Week activities it makes sense to spend a little time to let people know what you are doing and why.
There are plenty of opportunities to promote your initiative particularly with your local media. It is often a local story, directly related to where you live or work, that can make the most impact.
A media campaign can be large or small however, the more time you have to put into the campaign the greater the outputs. Even a few basic activities should still generate some good results and coverage in your chosen press.
Key Messages
The two overall themes for this year's World Heart Rhythm Week are:
- 'Know Your Pulse'
- A change of the European guidelines for AEDs in the community with 24 hour, seven days a week access.
There are two key messages relating to the campaign which we encourage you to promote through any media activities:
- Simple and routine pulse checks during GP appointments represent a cost-free way to help save thousands from death, disability and poor health arising from heart rhythm disorders
- A 24 hour, seven days a week access to Automated External Defibrillators in communities to help save hundreds of thousands of lives in Europe. (In the UK alone, 100,000 people a year die of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.)
Information to send journalists:
- Dates of the Awareness Week
- Know Your Pulse details of how readers, viewers and listeners in your country can learn how to check their pulse at the Know Your Pulse website at www.knowyourpulse.org
The main activity for a media campaign is putting together a press release and sending it to media targets (local newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations). Our example press release in the WHRW Toolkit can be adapted for this purpose, supplemented with your own local information.
Media Toolkit
This international toolkit provides a step-by-step guide to help you get publicity for your World Heart Rhythm Week activities.
By following the guidance provided in this toolkit you should be able to achieve some coverage in local newspapers, on radio and perhaps on TV.
The toolkit contains guidance on how to approach local media and what information to provide them with. It provides tips on adapting template press materials to make them locally relevant, preparing spokespeople and case studies, and timing of media activities for best effect.
Download your WHRW Toolkit here.
Download the WHRW Powerpoint Presentation here.
Educational and promotional materials for you to download…
Promotional Items
- Know Your Pulse Poster
- Pulse Check Guide
- World Heart Rhythm Week Events Poster
- AEDs in your Community Poster
Checklists
Media Resources