Difference between revisions of "Talk:Press Kit"

Latest revision as of 21:19, 8 February 2006

Mention some organizational ties (Mercy Corps? Rebuilding Center? OSDL?) Mention Portland as "hot spot" for free software/open source. (Use of terms OS and FS?)

Mention some successful grants, what the $$ allowed us to do

Write "letters to the editor"

we can send the same one to a bunch of media outlets

Write "prefab" stories.

mention first- and second-serial rights (basically, whether and when other publications can carry the same story.)

--Pete 01:51, 15 Dec 2005 (PST)

pages for Press Kit

clips from 5 or 6 media stories (1 sheet, 2 sides? maybe more.)
quantifying the good stuff we do: 1 page stats, back side testimonials
- Toxins in Computers ??
- Introduction to Free Geek's major programs!! Shawn
- couple anecdotes like Altair
major accomplishments of past year (maybe back of stats page?)
name big donators (corporate, individual, awards??)
describe ongoing needs of Free Geek (mention how we have substantially met them.) MONITOR FEE.
hours, contact info, web address, names of some staff, maybe a map.
Videos and audio clips on CD or DVD (only included if requested, due to expense)
- May '05 City Club clips (courtesy Aaron Burt) (see also City Club calendar page)
- Spirit One radio clip (April 05 or thereabouts, check archives for Liane's email.
- A 5.25" floppy with info on where to access videos online and/or how to contact us for a DVD
Some common terms used at Free Geek, also hardware, open source, etc terms Free Geek Definitions

old main page

A packet to get out to folks on the Media contact list.

Pete's outline of what should go in the Press Kit.

I feel these things all need to make it in there. Each press kit would be delivered along with (or after) a more personalized story pitch (phone, email...) which would focus on the elements most relevant to a given publication.

What Free Geek Does

why we're so cool

Include Stats and Testimonials to support each point.

a concise statement of "we solve waste problem by solving need problem."
we keep stuff out of landfills.
we get computers to folks who can't afford 'em.
we help folks pick up job skills.
we're efficient with the money and other resources we have.

let's keep this list focused on the major programs, and not overwhelm.

results of some hardware grants

Grants Follow Up

What Free Geek Needs

note: see Talk page for discussion of how appropriate each of these sub-categories is for press coverage.

Money

Little Money (every bit helps.)
Big Money (foundations, rich donors.)
We like money at any time!

Hardware

Little: clean out your garage
Big:clean out your IT warehouse
Let's focus our efforts here on smaller/community pubs, so as to avoid donation spikes.

Volunteers

we need your help, whoever you are!
Geeks Unite! put your special skills to work for the community.

list of major past media coverage

coordinate with list on web page.

Another good resource is the archive of volunteer newsletters.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-brainstorming for a Press Kit.
-Draw on resources in [[Stats and Testimonials]] and get stuff out to folks on the [[Media contact list]]. Another useful resource: [[Toxins in Computers]]
 Mention some organizational ties (Mercy Corps? Rebuilding Center? OSDL?) Mention Portland as "hot spot" for free software/open source. (Use of terms OS and FS?)
 Mention some successful grants, what the $$ allowed us to do
-There is a video (30 mins?) that details e-waste problems. What's the copyright status of it, can we legally make DVD copies? I believe Oso has a VHS copy and Joe Rowe has it on DVD.
 Write "letters to the editor"
@@ Line 21: / Line 15: @@
 *clips from 5 or 6 media stories (1 sheet, 2 sides? maybe more.)
 *quantifying the good stuff we do: 1 page stats, back side testimonials
+**[[Toxins in Computers]] ??
+** Introduction to Free Geek's major programs!! [[User:Shawn|Shawn]]
+**couple anecdotes like [[Altair]]
 *major accomplishments of past year (maybe back of stats page?)
 *name big donators (corporate, individual, awards??)
 *describe ongoing needs of Free Geek (mention how we have substantially met them.) MONITOR FEE.
 *hours, contact info, web address, names of some staff, maybe a map.
-*a CD?? [http://www.ece.pdx.edu/~abu/city_club.mp3 May '05 City Club] clips (courtesy Aaron Burt)
+*[[Videos]] and audio clips on CD or DVD (only included if requested, due to expense)
+**[http://www.ece.pdx.edu/~abu/city_club.mp3 May '05 City Club] clips (courtesy Aaron Burt) (see also [http://www.pdxcityclub.org/calendar/calendar.php?type=month&day=1&month=05&year=2005 City Club calendar page])
-== from modsquad mailing list, 12/05 ==
+**Spirit One radio clip (April 05 or thereabouts, check archives for Liane's email.
-=== Shawn ===
+** A 5.25" floppy with info on where to access videos online and/or how to contact us for a DVD
-Umm, what have we been working on...?  Here's my ideas:
+*Some common terms used at Free Geek, also hardware, open source, etc terms [[Free Geek Definitions]]
-- Holiday party
-- Media strategy and a little bit on what that involves
-- People's Supporting Business - we'll probably be doing this, but
-we're working on the specifics
-- We'll have another 25% off at the thrift store coupon in the Chinook
-Book for 2006
-- We're gearing up for grant/funding request season
-- If people want to comment or get involved, email outreach@
-- Anything else (that's already a lot)
-Let's bat this around on the list, then get the report to council.  I
-don't think it's horribly important to get _all_ of this in even, but
-it would be nice.  I see the council reports as a general, informative
-check-up by those in charge (the council).  Highly detailed reports
-aren't totally necessary.
-=== Marie ===
-Marie’s Thoughts on FG Outreach:
-Pete lists FG’s three categories of need as Hardware, Volunteers and Money...
-I think I need a better understanding of those needs in order to best contribute my thoughts on effective outreach.
-Let’s take them in order:
-Hardware:
-Is the goal of outreach about this to increase the mass of hardware coming in the door?  Is the target audience regular folks who are upgrading, cleaning out, etc?  What happens if media attention increases hardware donations like this markedly?  What capacity does FG have to accomodate what rate of increase in this kind of donations?
-Is there a more targeted goal for hardware that suggests FG target businesses or some audience that can provide specific kinds/specs of hardware that FG needs most.  Is the media the most effective way of doing this kind of outreach or are more personal contacts/connections more likely to accomplish this?
-In sum, I want to know more about what kind of hardware FG most wants/needs, who has it, where it can come from, etc.?
-Volunteers:
-What do we already know about where volunteers FG has thus far have come from.  Are there characteristics volunteers share that would help us identify how to best reach them?  How do volunteers currently find out about FG?  Do they get their info from newspapers, tv, radio, other sources, etc?  Should we begin by knowing more about what already works?  Is media outreach the best way to accomplish this?  Would it be more effective to target outreach to certain agencies, organizations, etc.?  I need to know more about who we need to reach before making suggestions about how best to reach them.
-Money:
-I’d like to know more about our existing donors.  My impression is they mostly donate $ when donating equipment.  Is that really true?  What has been our experience in media coverage leading to donations of $?  In the world of charitable giving in the U.S., about 85% of donating is done by individuals, 10% by foundations, and 5% by corporations.  What is our mix?  Are we putting 85% of our effort into reaching individual donors?  (individuals are generally the most valuable donors because they often are willing to donate year after year, while foundations and corporations often are not)  What should we do to increase our attention on individual donors?  What are we doing now?  Do we have major donors?  Generally speaking, it seems to me media coverage is not the  most effective way to reach individual and especially major donors.  Certainly it helps build general awareness, which can help in providing background, but you know the saying, people give to people.  Personal contacts are usually necessary to make individual giving work.  (This is an area I’m especially interested in and already working to try to help accomplish this, that’s why I brought Duncan Campbell in last week but I would like to bring in lots more.  We just need to make sure we’re ready for them.)
-So I guess the bottom line for me at this point is:
-What are the specific objectives FG has for outreach?  Are these objectives best met by media coverage or other kinds of outreach?  What would be a good mix of efforts?  Who is best suited to do what parts?
+== old main page ==
-=== --[[User:Halfasspete|Pete]] 10:58, 16 Dec 2005 (PST) ===
+A packet to get out to folks on the [[Media contact list]].
-Marie,
-You ask some excellent questions. Here are my thoughts. (Note: as long as there are major points for us to discuss about our needs, maybe it's best to not go into much detail at Council.)
+Pete's outline of what should go in the Press Kit.
+:I feel these things all need to make it in there. Each press kit would be delivered along with (or after) a more personalized story pitch (phone, email...) which would focus on the elements most relevant to a given publication.
-Personally, I feel that "general awareness" is the biggest benefit we can get from the media. Free Geek does so many different and cool things, we will never be able to fully predict what strikes a chord with whom.
+== What Free Geek Does ==
+=== why we're so cool ===
+Include [[Stats and Testimonials]] to support each point.
+#a concise statement of "we solve waste problem by solving need problem."
+#we keep stuff out of landfills.
+#we get computers to folks who can't afford 'em.
+#we help folks pick up job skills.
+#we're efficient with the money and other resources we have.
+*let's keep this list focused on the major programs, and not overwhelm.
-Hardware: I would think that increasing hardware donations, in the long run, is an important goal. Both because it's a core part of Free Geek's mission to keep stuff out of landfills, and because it brings in dollar donations. A gradual increase is certainly more manageable, which is why I'd advocate keeping our hardware solicitations to smaller articles (community papers, college papers.) If there are annual patterns, we should try to time such articles durning slumps. That way, hopefully when there IS a bigger article in the Oregonian or Willy Week, maybe it won't cause such an unmanageable spike.
+=== results of some hardware grants ===
+[[Grants Follow Up]]
-Your point about higher-end hardware is worthwhile, but if FG has such a need I'm not aware of it. Also, I'm not sure how we'd be able to effectively solicit higher-end hardware. This point bears more discussion.
+== What Free Geek Needs ==
+note: see Talk page for discussion of how appropriate each of these sub-categories is for press coverage.
+=== Money ===
+*Little Money (every bit helps.)
+*Big Money (foundations, rich donors.)
+*We like money at any time!
+=== Hardware ===
+*Little: clean out your garage
+*Big:clean out your IT warehouse
+*Let's focus our efforts here on smaller/community pubs, so as to avoid donation spikes.
+=== Volunteers ===
+*we need your help, whoever you are!
+*Geeks Unite! put your special skills to work for the community.
-Volunteers: I have lots of ideas how to get volunteers, and no, I don't think the media is the most effective way to do it. But, I think discussing the volunteering aspect will always be of interest to news readers.
+== list of major past media coverage ==
+coordinate with [http://freegeek.org/media.php list on web page.]
-Money: Your points are well taken. I think pushing too hard for cash donations in the press would seem tacky. However, if we were to have something like a "campaign," media attention might be helpful. (e.g. "Help Free Geek build up a cash reserve of $50,000 by July" or "Help Free Geek finish its classroom/community meeting space.")
+Another good resource is the archive of [http://lists.freegeek.org/pipermail/e-newsletter/ volunteer newsletters].