News offers information about activities or events that are of interest to, affect or involve the public, such as the dedication of a new Lions park. Some projects, although worthwhile, may not be “newsworthy.” To determine what is newsworthy, ask yourself, “Would a non-Lion find this interesting or useful?” Public service gives information about a specific topic to help or assist the public, such as describing the warning signs of diabetes or encouraging volunteerism.
Decide which activities are unique and may be of interest to the media. To be considered newsworthy, they should be about timely events or activities that:
Read local newspapers, watch television news programs and listen to a variety of local radio stations to get a feel for what is likely to be covered by your news media.
Get involved early in the planning of Lions projects to determine their PR potential. The following are examples of club activities with possible news value:
120,000,000
More than 120 million children worldwide have been helped by need-based Lions Eye Care Centers opened with the World Health Organization to deliver eye care services.
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