ENHANCING MEDIA COVERAGE DURING PURCHASING MONTH
Purchasing Month - 101

Links Activity Ideas Celebrating Purchasing Month in your Office or Agency Enhancing Media Coverage during Purchasing Month How to Proclaim Purchasing Month in your State/Province Purchasing Month Logo Sample Purchasing Month Proclamation

Purchasing Month provides a great opportunity to gain media exposure, as the media are always looking for new story ideas. Here are some ideas to help you receive media coverage:

Develop a press list by compiling all the local media contacts and prepare news releases about purchasing month. Be sure to title the page as a press release and underneath it say “For Immediate Release”. Also cover all the “W’s” – Where, When, Why and What. Mail your information approximately 45 days prior to the event and follow up with either another reminder mailing or phone call. Don’t forget that if you are doing a community service activity, that you can receive free coverage through a Public Service Announcement (PSA). PSAs should be identified as such and FCC rules require all media stations (radio and TV) to provide time for this form of advertising. However competition is keen, and you should provide plenty of advanced notice to ensure getting your event in the que. If you are looking to place information in a magazine, they generally require even more time. You should contact their production department to obtain a submission deadline schedule. With all correspondence, make sure to include contact information for any follow up they may require.

Remember that the underlying theme for all your activities is the promotion and recognition of the field of Public Purchasing. Your media contacts may not be familiar with procurement, so be prepared to provide information, factsheets, brochures, etc. that illustrates how procurement is important to taxpayers, local businesses, industry and government.

Best of luck!