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Communications & Media Relations - Suggestions

Press Releases

We're happy to issue press releases for the great things happening at your school! Just complete an online tip sheet. We'll contact you if we need more information.

What will your press release look like? See the Sample Press Release (in Adobe PDF) for an example.

Sending the Right Message

These easy tips help ensure that your on-screen interview is successful.

1. Determine the message before you express it.
2. Use student images to illustrate your statement.
3. Smile. Enthusiasm works.
4. Wear solids, not patterns. Remove key chains.
5. Use complete sentences with your school name.
6. Interrupt and correct.
7. Remember that media is always controversial.
8. Ask to return to a topic if you would like to change your response.
9. Be authentic. Share an anecdote. Tell a story.
10. Invite the media back.
11. For class projects, consider video poetry, oral histories, short reporting pieces, 10 shot story, modern fables.
12. For classroom productions:
    • shorter is harder but better. 2-3" is great.
    • use student images, music, narration.
    • use available resources (libraries, families, nature).
13. Close-ups link the viewer to the material.
14. Sound matters.

Taking Better Photographs

Want to shoot photos like a pro? Use these simple and effective tips.

1. Have the camera ready.
   • A good professional always carries a pocket camera looking for a photo moment.
2. Direct the photograph.
   • Tell people to smile, move, hug, jump, kiss.
3. Zoom in and focus on the eyes.
   • Eliminate anything that is not part of the story. Simple backgrounds are good.
4. Use a flash outdoors.
   • Outdoor flash enhances colors, and reduces wrinkles.
5. Learn to frame using the golden ratio.
   • 3rds
6. Use window light indoors, or natural light when possible.
   • Sunlight is a heavenly light.
   • Put the sun behind your subject and use a flash.
7. Portraits are best vertical, landscapes are often best horizontal.
8. Learn to use a photo-editing program, such as Photoshop.
   • What you create is what you can print.
   • Files are best at actual size desired for printing (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 8x12, 11x14.).
   • Best at 300 dpi.
9. Check out Kodak's tips for photography