Making the News: A Guide for Activists and Nonprofits

by Jason Salzman

At a time when more and more people are becoming activists, this thoroughly revised and updated edition of Making the News explains how to generate news coverage of any important issue or nonprofit cause – and to do so within a reasonable budget. Based on interviews with professional journalists and media-savvy activists, this easy-to-use handbook describes how to stage media events, write distinctive news releases, contact reporters, deliver soundbites, and much more. Now including the latest information about online media coverage – including news Web sites, viral e-mail, and more – this new edition will also insure a media edge in the Internet age. The handbook's expanded sections on aggressive tactics, including extensive tips on how to create newsworthy visual imagery, provides everything needed to transform standard media events into spectacles that reporters won't ignore.

Genres: Nonfiction, Activism

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I refer to this book a lot. It has good, no-nonsense guidelines for writing a letter to the editor or an op-ed, and a pretty solid walk-through of the press release process. For this last, especially, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the care and feeding of journalists, and you get the primer here. No pretenses either that publicity isn't really freaking hard work, no matter how much your heart's in it.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An earlier edition of this book taught me all the basics I needed to know (and then some) when I was first trying my hand at PR as a college student working with several campus activist orgs. In the intervening years I've used the lessons from Salzman's book time and time again as a full-time nonprofit PR professional.

[Inggita · Rating 3 out of 5]

an ideabook for creative demonstration and spinning news for activists - Bunderan HI need some makeover!

[Macalester Linguistics]

A 14.0