5 World Meningitis Day tips

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1. Use either of the campaign hashtags, #DefeatMeningitis or #WorldMeningitisDay, to join the global movement to make meningitis a global health priority.
    

2. Use any of the toolkit files to add a great image to your post, tweet, video or blog.
    

3. Don’t wait till 5th October to start telling people: we’re a global movement demanding global action to defeat meningitis. Let’s make every day to 2030 count.
    

4. Don’t forget to take action on the 5th October too. We want to make this World Meningitis Day louder than ever so every time you post, share or tell others in any way helps make that happen.
    

5. Use our quote cards to tell people why defeating meningitis matters to you. Why not tag your politician in your post or use our template to email them, so they know this is an issue that matters to you.

 

Tips for getting the media spotlight on your World Meningitis Day news

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Are you working on something exciting to mark World Meningitis Day?  

 

Perhaps you have some news you want to share and you’re looking to drum up some media interest, but you’re not quite not sure how to improve your chances of making the headlines?

 

Then look no further, these tips are just for you. 

 

1. Identify your meningitis news hook

For something to be newsworthy it needs to be new. 

People read the news because they want to find out about something that they don’t already know. The more unusual or unexpected it is, the more of interest it’s likely to be to the person reading it. 

Ask yourself, what is different about your meningitis story? What don’t people already know and why would they want or need to know this? Highlight the unusual - perhaps it’s the first of a kind? Or maybe it’s the only one of something. Think superlatives - biggest, fastest, largest, tallest, oldest. 

And remember, people care about people. So what’s the human interest angle of your story? Size and scale make great news angles, so is this something that could be included? Does it draw people together? Or perhaps your story involves a lot of people across a large geographical area, united by a common goal? Or maybe it involves an element of history – a long standing tradition or the third generation of the same family taking part in an activity?

 

2. Take a great photo

A picture says a thousand words. So, try to create a photo opportunity that reflects what you’re talking about to help generate interest in your story. 

Faces work really well (just be sure you have everyone’s consent to be in the image) and think about the smaller details. What’s the background for your photo? Does it reflect what you’re trying to say about your organisation? Maybe there an opportunity for some branding? Think T-shirts for fundraisers or a pull-up banners publicising your activity.

It’s worth investing the time in a great photo because it may just be the difference between whether or not a story gets used.

 

3. Think about the best media targets

One you have a great news angle it’s all about finding the best way to share your story with the people you want to hear about it, so they’ll take action.

When you think of media, people tend to think of national broadcasters or newspapers. But the most successful media coverage is about making sure you get your message in front of those you want to see it.

So think about what your news angle is - what do you want people to know and who needs to know it? Once you know this you can work out who is going to be interested in your story and the best way to reach them.

Start small and cover all bases. Look at all the media in your area. Your local newspaper and radio station are a great place to start. But don’t forget about a community newsletter or maybe even a student radio station. 

Do you have any specialist news outlets, like trade titles, that might suit your audience and be interested in what you have to say? Or perhaps you know a blogger that might be interested. 

Remember it’s all about spreading the word. So, once you’ve pitched your story, don’t forget to share it across your own social channels using the hashtags #DefeatMeningitis and #WorldMeningitisDay, and enlist the support of your followers to share it further

 

Good luck!