As the new year begins, please bear with me as we all try to understand what PR (Public Relations) is. This is
of course not going to be an all inclusive list of what is and is not PR, but should give us all an idea of what does
qualify as approved PR. PR is positive press the community comes in contact with and is identified with BSA.
As a Council we had a great year in 2006. Collectively we met our 2006 goal. Now that 2007 has begun, we are
accepting 2007 PR.
PR is...
Printed articles in
Church bulletins. Those that promote Scouting and not just a calendar date or room assignment.
School newsletters. Those that promote Scouting and not just a calendar date or room assignment.
Subdivision newsletters.
Magazines
Community newspapers
Photographs of
School marquees. One photo per school per event
Neighborhood marquees. Counts once per event
Adopt a Hwy sign. Counts once a year
Television
Get station's letter head saying dates and times of broadcast counts once only unless the wording changes.
Not to be used for multiple loops and the District initiates it.
Proof of school's internal audio/video announcement ie. Letter from school secretary
Radio
Get station's letter head saying dates and times of broadcast counts once only unless the wording changes.
Not to be used for multiple loops and the District initiates it.
PR is not...
Unit website homepage.
Calendar items from church or school websites
Posters in the schools or in store windows or yard signs
Billboards, are Council sponsored, not District sponsored
Council or District sponsored event fliers
Photographs of an event unless it is a high profile community event and then only one per event
Mail outs
School night fliers
Rally fliers
Printed articles of associated organizations that do not specify BSA or some reference to BSA in their print
This is NOT an all inclusive list and final determination can be made on an individual basis.
I know we will all work together in 2007 to reach our collective goals.
Scouting in the News Award
Please remember about Scouting in the News Award and the ribbons for them. We have 3 different ribbons a unit can qualify for during the year or 36 pieces of articles. Please have them submit the application for this award.
When units submit articles with picture and text the Unit gets credit for 2 pieces of PR. The District will receive credit for 1 article. If the unit submits text only or picture only it will count as 1 piece and the District will get credit for 1 piece as well.
Non-traditional Districts will have the same criteria for approved PR as traditional Districts.
You will have access to the following folder to download and manipulate templates of numerous activities that can then be used send to media outlets. Also included will be the media outlets within SHAC we have been able to identify. You may have more not on the list. If so, please let me know who and their contact info. If you intend to use the few MAJOR outlets, please submit your articles to Jason Volz and he will deliver them to them. We are trying to have only 1 point of contact to the MAJOR outlets.
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