Getting media coverage

Media releases

You should try to personalise your media release according to your situation: you may not have asthma or you may have done the London Marathon many times before, but whatever your story is, remember to include your personal details at the top and end of the media release or people will be unable to contact you.

You can download a model media release from the bottom of this page.

Once you have completed your own media release then email/post/fax it to your local newspapers, local radio and TV stations.

Letter to the Editor

A letter to the Editor is a good way to make a personal announcement and an appeal for sponsorship from your local community. Some newspapers, especially the larger local dailies, will have a lot of stories competing for space so the letters page is often the best way of getting your message in print.

Remember to tell the personal story behind why you are running the London Marathon for Asthma UK and to include information about how people can sponsor you.

You may want to use statistics about asthma to illustrate your story.

Address your letter to the 'Letters Editor'.

Direct contact

If you think you have a good story to tell then why not call the newspaper or radio/tv station direct?

• Ask to be put through to the Newsdesk
• Have a summary of what you want to say to hand
• Tell the journalist what you are doing and let them ask you questions
• Be ready to post, email or fax any background information
• And if one paper isn't interested then don't give up. Local journalists are always interested in local people and you will eventually get a result!