Once you've gotten a grant, you'll want to do a bit of publicity in the local media. Local grants often require a media announcement as part of the grantagreement contract. Just as with grant proposals, media announcements — also called press releases — are formulaic. Always begin with a headline such as “Media Release.” Then provide contact information (the name, address, e-mail address, and phone number of the person in the organization who fields questions or can tell the media more about the project).

Also in the heading, you have to say whether the release is immediate or to be held until a certain date so the media know they may not release the information to the public prior to that stated time. Center a headline that announces the grant and the amount to be received. Then start the story with a dateline, just like those in the newspaper, that includes today's date and the city and state.

A two-page news release is more than sufficient. And it absolutely should always include at least one quote from project staff or leadership. If possible, use another quote from the granting agency. Describe the project in a way that makes it sound exciting. Signal the end with three number symbols centered after the last paragraph (# # #).

Following is a sample media release about the federal grant proposal included in Appendix C. Specific identifying information has been deleted or made generic for this example.

30 November 2003

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

For More Information:

John Doe at (222) 555-1212

Address

E-mail

ABC Receives $250,000 from U.S. Department of Education for Mobile Media Lab

November 30, year, City, State. The ABC Nonprofit (ABC) today announced receipt of a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its

Mobile Learning Lab for Information Education (MML). MML was planned and launched preliminarily with an $80,000 Ameritech/SBC grant provided earlier this year. The federal grant enables ABC to equip a van with computers, cameras, and wireless connectivity and to develop curriculum for kindergarten through twelfth-grade educational-enrichment programs and operation of digital editing software.

MML is a painted van equipped with twenty wireless laptop computers and sixteen video cameras that will travel to city and suburban neighborhoods and schools to provide computer training, Internet access, and video-production training. Audio, video, and computer data can be routed back to the ABC for possible transmission on FM radio, cable television, and streaming on the Internet.

“These funds will allow us to share high-tech resources in low-income neighborhoods, so MML is now one of the foremost projects we have to help us in our effort to close the digital divide,” said John Doe, executive director of the ABC.

Under the direction of Americorp VISTA volunteers and staff, MML is piloting programs at a local school and will be ready for full launch in city and suburban schools by the start of second semester. The van and programs will also be provided to neighborhood associations, youth centers, and other programs for homeless or low-income families throughout the city.

ABC is a nonprofit entity with the mission to “Build Community Through Media.” Affiliates of the ABC include TV, radio, Internet, and information democracy.

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