Use your local newspapers, magazines, community guides, radio stations, and television and cable access channels to help spread the word about your Book Fair to a large audience.

The press welcomes information about community happenings. Most television stations and newspapers offer an online form to make submitting event information fast and easy.

Before the Book Fair: Contact the Media

• Have your publicity volunteer make a list of editors and reporters, with their names, phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Most newspapers and radio and television stations will list newsroom contact information right on their Web sites. Target lifestyle writers, book editors, or education reporters because they will be the most interested in your announcement.
• Use this before the fair press release (RTF) to create a media announcement about your Scholastic Book Fair.
• E-mail or fax your release to the reporter. If you e-mail your announcement, copy and paste your release into the body of the e-mail. Use plain text, and avoid fancy fonts, graphics, and bullets. Also, state your Book Fair dates in your subject line.
• Send your announcements at least two weeks before your Book Fair. HINT: The best time to send your release is Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., as newsrooms tend to be less busy at this time.
• Use our suggested phone script (RTF) to call reporters a day or two after sending the release to ask if they would write a story about your upcoming Book Fair. Don't be discouraged if an editor hasn't reviewed your press release – editors and reporters receive lots of material.
• Television stations often will not decide what stories to cover until the preceding day, so it’s a good idea to follow up with television reporters the day before your Fair. Remind them about your Family Event and fill them in on the exciting photo opportunities. Use our reminder phone script (RTF) for media.

• Press clippings about your event are important. You can use them to make people excited about how your school celebrated reading with a successful Book Fair.
• Consider storing your clippings where people visiting the school can see them. This is a great way to build excitement for your next Book Fair.
• Distribute the after fair press release (RTF) and announce the total number of books purchased and visitors to the Fair. Send it to your list of local newspapers, radio stations, and television studios.