Handling the "PR": promoting your program to the press, students and parents.Most high school athletic departments have a lot of trouble dealing with public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most (PR). Unlike the colleges, high schools have to have their athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic or coaches handle the PR. The two common axioms This is a list of axioms as that term is understood in mathematics, by Wikipedia page. In epistemology, the word axiom is understood differently; see axiom and self-evidence. Individual axioms are almost always part of a larger axiomatic system. that should guide the high school PR effort are: 1. Always put your best foot forward and accentuate ac·cen·tu·ate tr.v. ac·cen·tu·at·ed, ac·cen·tu·at·ing, ac·cen·tu·ates 1. To stress or emphasize; intensify: the positive. 2. First impressions do count, so make sure to get off on the right foot. Coaches may also have to educate their players in the matter of answering reporters' questions. The aforementioned guidelines for coaches can serve the athletes as well. Prior to the season, supply the local newspapers, the educational cable TV station, and radio stations with rosters, schedules, and any other information that can facilitate their jobs. A good working relationship will invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil produce favorable PR.
Suggestions for the press release: 1. Before sending a release to the press, coaches would be wise to give their athletic director a look at it. This applies to letters to parents, program material, newsletters, etc. Note: Make sure to proofread all releases for spelling and grammar before passing them along. You don't want to embarrass your athletic department. If you don't feel up to the task of proofreading Proofreading traditionally means reading a proof copy of a text in order to detect and correct any errors. Modern proofreading often requires reading copy at earlier stages as well. or editing manuscripts, you may call upon your English Dept. for help. 2. Check the release for readability. Does the piece flow? Does the copy follow a logical pattern? Does it work for the intended audience? 3. You may inject humor humor, according to ancient theory, any of four bodily fluids that determined man's health and temperament. Hippocrates postulated that an imbalance among the humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) resulted in pain and disease, and that good health was , if it is suitable and you can handle it. If you do not have a knack for humor, avoid it. Forced humor can make you look foolish. 4. Always avoid sarcasm. It is usually misunderstood and demeaning de·mean 1 tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class. . 5. Remember that a positive, upbeat message and style of writing is usually better received than a critical or carping carp·ing adj. Naggingly critical or complaining. carp  ing·ly adv.Noun 1. piece of writing. 6. Lastly, try to write as clearly as possible. This is harder than it sounds. Do not always assume that the reader will understand you. Explain everything fully in the simplest fashion possible. What is the best way to reach your community? At Eastern Tech, we use several unique approaches to PR: 1. We have a sports bulletin board in our main lobby, and we assign one of our energetic coaches to collect and post the latest clippings on all of our teams, plus copies of our seasonal schedules. 2. We also have the coach write a weekly highlight sheet called the "Eastern Tech Sports Report Sports Report is one of the longest-running programmes on British radio. It started in the first week of 1948, and has always been aired from 5.00 to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday evenings during the football season, although commentaries on matches starting around 5.15 p.m. ," which is distributed to our students and faculty members during the Monday lunch periods. The Sport Report is also distributed later as a newsletter for our parents. 3. As athletic director, I prepare a weekly press release for the two weekly newspapers, covering the highlights of the previous week's athletic events. 4. Commercially produced seasonal schedule posters are prominently posted throughout the school and also given to the athletes' parents and our advertisers (for display in their business locations). 5. Prior to each of the three seasons, we (1) hold pre-season parents' meetings, (2) host an evening (parents') meeting to explain the college recruiting process, and (3) have our booster club A booster club is an organization that is formed to contribute money to an associated club, sports team, or organization. Booster clubs are popular in American schools at the high school and university level. produce a quarterly newsletter. These are all very effective devices for communicating with our parents. Continual and effective PR is extremely important. The time and effort spent on it pay huge dividends in the form of a greater understanding of and appreciation for the program. Remember, PR is not a luxury or frill. It is a must. Guidelines in Dealing with the Press 1. Be positive in your speech and actions. 2. Do not blame officials, injuries, or the weather for losses. 3. Think before speaking. Ask yourself: How will these comments be perceived? 4. Be prepared. Have rosters and stats readily available. Anticipate probable questions. 5. Don't say anything "off the record" unless you are prepared to read your words in the papers the next morning. 6. It's better to say too little than too much. 7. Avoid making predictions for the game or season. Too many variables can throw you off the track and make you look foolish or frivolous. |
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