Daily newspapers and TV/radio news shows aren't the only outlets in your area. You should also check for community media. Many neighbourhoods produce their own weekly or bi-weekly newspapers, and schools and community groups may also put out a regular newsletter. There might be at least one community radio or television station (cable TV companies are often required to provide this service to the public). As with mainstream media, research them all and decide which ones to approach.

Small community media are generally more accessible than mainstream media, since most have a mandate to address issues of local concern. So your story ideas are more likely to be covered. And because most community newspapers have very small staffs, (there may be only one staff editor, and a number of freelance or volunteer reporters) you can often call up the newsroom and speak directly to the editor. If you're a strong writer, you can even offer to write the article!

Getting Involved with Community Radio and TV Stations

Your city or town probably has a public-access TV channel, which exists to provide a place for community groups and citizens to make themselves heard.

Community TV is constantly on the lookout for stories that don't get told on the mainstream TV stations, so getting their attention is generally easy. Just call your local community station, and introduce yourself and your organization to the programming director. He/she will probably give your information to a producer, who may decide to do a news story - based on the your information, and a couple of follow-up interviews. They might invite you into the studio for a more in-depth interview. Or if the producer thinks your story deserves more coverage, s/he may even decide to hold a "town hall" meeting - a studio discussion involving you and several other community members.

Radio stations in the community work much the same way. Universities and colleges often have radio stations, usually staffed by students, but the programming often reflects the interests of the community at large. They might be particularly interested in youth-related stories.

Use the resources on the right hand side of this page for tips on promoting a youth perspective in the media; creating a communications plan; getting news coverage of an event; and pitching and writing news stories and articles.