Re: Need press releases for upcoming events

["Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier" <jzb zonker net>]

On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 2:10 PM, Stormy Peters <stormy gnome org> wrote:
> The first event is April 23rd so I'd say a few days before that ...

Who should be putting together the press worksheet on this one? Who's
got the info the team needs to actually write the release?

Let's try to start having press releases locked at least 3 business
days prior to release.

Best,

Zonker
-- 
Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb zonker net>
About: http://www.dissociatedpress.net/about/

GNOME PR Worksheet

This is to help simplify putting together a press release / press push for GNOME activities. We don't need to do press releases for every GNOME activity or release, but should think about the activities and events that will generate the greatest press interest. 




1.) What's the target date for the announcement? Is this a hard deadline?






2.) What is the news that is to be announced and what is the audience for the announcement (users, developers, all GNOME contributors, etc.?)





3.) What are the primary "messages" or key points to be conveyed by the announcement? What are the most important facts or ideas that a reporter or reader should take away from the release? 

*** For example: 3 to 5 bullet points about the event or release. If it's a software release, the top 3 to 5 benefits of the release for users and that will interest press. If an event, the top 3 to 5 ideas (not counting the event details like dates or location) that a reader should come away with. ***






4.) Who should be quoted in this release? Please provide contact information if at all possible.

*** If possible, please supply a sample or suggested quote. What would you like the person to say? We can tweak the language and work with the sources, but it helps to have a general idea what we're hoping to have a quote convey. ***




5.) Who should be the key spokesperson or persons for this announcement (if different or additional to above)?






6.) Please supply as much supporting detail as possible, or links to supporting information: Such as, event dates, download locations, etc. Please attach any release notes, announcements, links to blogs, etc. that might be used for this announcement. 






7.) Who needs to "sign off" on the release before it is published? Will another organization be making a joint announcement with us?




8.) Any additional news outlets that might be interested in this announcement? (i.e., outside the usual Linux community news sites and IT tech coverage). 





9.) Anything else we need to know about the announcement? Is it in any way (that you know of) "controversial" or any specific background on what we need to know in order to field press questions about this?