Maine Students Make Alternative Spring Break Plans Students from seven Maine colleges will celebrate Raise Your Voice—A Week of Action by taking an alternative spring break trip to Washington, D.C. to work on issues of hunger and homelessness. In D.C. students will participate in community service projects, visit their congressional representatives and talk to D.C.-based students. The activities continue once students return from Maine when students will meet with state legislators and share their service experiences with others on campus. Learn more about getting your campus involved in community service projects by clicking here.

MEDIA TIPS:

Know how to reach journalists. Keep your press lists updated with current phone, fax and e-mail information.

Always clearly identify yourself and why you are calling. Journalists talk to many people a day.

Be direct. Don’t beat around the bush with reporters. If you want them to write a story about campaign activities on your campus and in the community, directly ask them to do so.

Be brief. News stories require concise, succinct messages that can easily be converted into “soundbites” and short quotes.

Be honest. If you do not know an answer, say so and offer to find out. Never answer a question you do not fully understand.

Respect deadlines. Members of the media work on tight deadlines. Try to avoid calling in the late afternoon or immediately before a news broadcast and always respond quickly and accurately to journalists’ requests.

Be flexible and accommodating. By working with journalists’ busy schedules, you can help improve or increase coverage of the campaign.

Don’t be discouraged. Journalists are asked to cover a wide-range of stories on strict timelines everyday. Persistence often pays off.

Say thanks. Send thank you notes, and when promoting specific stories to the press, also thank journalists for their time, even if they chose not to cover your event or story idea.