Recruiting for KOHP

1. Recruiting for KOHP Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

2. Main Topics • Earned media basics • Earned media tools • Tips for working with the media Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

3. Earned Media • Free Media coverage • Valuable! • News stories • Editorials • Letters to the Editor • Public Service Announcements Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

4. News Releases • Provides a story to reporters • If well written, paper may print it exactly as written. • Keep adjectives (exciting, valuable, etc.) in quotes • “This important event...,” said Mary • Write in inverted pyramid – most important information first • Keep to 1 page if possible Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

5. News Releases • Release must have news value • If it doesn’t, it will hurt your credibility • Send 3 – 5 days before an event or day of an announcement • Earlier for a weekly paper • Proofread carefully • Grammar and spelling mistakes will get your release ignored • Include at least one quote Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

6. Sample News Release NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cindy Winters May 1, 2008 785-296-8150 & cwinters@kdhe.state.ks.us Physical Activity Key to Decreasing Arthritis Pain Worksite wellness initiative aimed at helping the Kansas worker address chronic diseases TOPEKA, KS – Although nearly 563,000 adults in Kansas* who have arthritis are painfully aware of their symptoms, many still do not know there is something they can do about it. As part of National Arthritis Awareness Month in May, Kansans who have pain and activity limitations due to arthritis are encouraged to work with their physician to become more physically active. Research has shown that pain and activity limitations can be reduced with 30 minutes a day of physical activity most days of the week. “Being more physically active is probably the single best thing a person with arthritis can do to reduce their pain,” said Roderick Bremby, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “Even with small increments of increased physical activity, a person with arthritis can decrease their pain, increase their flexibility and get a better night’s sleep.” “Thirty minutes a day can seem daunting and overwhelming for a person with arthritis,” said Cindy Winters, KDHE Arthritis Program Manager. “Breaking the half hour of exercise into smaller amounts over the course of the day can still have the same positive impact in reducing pain.” Winters dispels the myth that exercising can cause further joint damage. “When you’re moving through physical activity, blood and other vital nutrients are getting pumped into the cartilage in your joints, keeping you flexible and strengthening the muscles around the joint to protect it,” Winters said. Research continues to bear out the benefits for people to be more physically active, including those persons with arthritis. Studies have shown that a person who is physically active at least one to two times a week will save an average of $250 annually.** Among working-age Kansans, 20% report having doctor-diagnosed arthritis.* In this decade alone, arthritis has cost the state of Kansas $1.1 billion, $700 million in direct medical expenditures and $400 million in lost productivity and premature death.* KDHE is currently in the process of developing a worksite initiative to address not only the impact of arthritis but other chronic diseases in the workplace. Arthritis self-management programs have been proven to reduce medical expenses including insurance premiums and decrease absenteeism because of disease-related complications. ### *2007 Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data **Wang, F. McDonald T., Champagne, L.J. and Edington, D.W. Relationship of body mass index and physical activity to health care cost among employees. JOEM 2004;46:428-36.

7. Letters to the Editor • Can be written by anyone • This is the place for opinion • Organize different people to send letters • Give them the topic and a few points to stress • Could organize a campaign to send a different letter weekly Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

8. Editorials • Written by a newspaper’s editorial board • You can request a meeting with the editorial board to ask them to write about an issue or event • Request must stress why readers would care about the issue • Must prepare and know the facts for a meeting Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

9. Guest Editorials • Guest editorials are written by an expert in a particular area • Find an expert to submit an editorial on arthritis • Who would be an expert in your area? Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

10. Public Service Announcement (PSA) • PSAs are free ads • Generally from non-profit or govt. • Address a community issue or public health/safety message • Aired whenever station wants • Could be 3 a.m. Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

11. Requesting a PSA • Contact radio station community relations, public affairs or program director • Convince him/her of the value of your message • Have PSAs written so you are ready to go when they say yes Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

12. Creating a PSA • Length 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds • Write a PSA like you speak – conversationally • PSAs need to get attention and make a point quickly • Think about radio ads that you pay attention to (probably not many) • Read it out-loud and time yourself Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

13. Web sites • Are there Web sites locals visit frequently? • Can you post information? • Is there a local business that might support your cause by adding information to their Web site • What are other Web ideas? Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

14. Pitching your story • Briefly convince them why this is important • Statistics • Anecdote - interesting, amusing, or biographical incident • Be enthusiastic/passionate about cause • Highlight news value • why readers will care • Keep it brief! Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

15. When Reporters Call You • Return calls quickly • Find out their deadline • Find out what info. they need and call them back • Take a few minutes to gather your thoughts • OK to say “I don’t know” • Don’t try to wing it Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

16. Final Thoughts • Most reporters want to get the facts right • “Good News” is often appealing • Reporters time is limited, respect that • Being friendly and polite goes a long way Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

17. Key Points • Concise • Factual • Timely Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

18. Contact Information: Ginger Park, MS Kansas Department of Health & Environment Tobacco Use Prevention Program gpark@kdheks.gov 785-296-1118 Our Vision – Healthier Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments.

19. www.kdheks.gov