APPENDIX H:

APIAVOTE Voter Mobilization Toolkit - APPENDICES

Sample Press Release

If a letterhead is available, place your press release on letterhead. It
makes your press release stand out and the media may recognize your
organization. Similarly, use logos.
“For Immediate Re-
lease” at the top left For Immediate Release
corner of the page. September 6, 2008
Have it typed in all Contact: Jihae Doe Contact information
caps, flush left. If ap-
(123) 456-7891 should be listed, with a
propriate, then state in
jihaedoe@school.edu contact name, telephone
lieu of the release
number (preferably a cell
information “embar-
to enhance the reporters’
goed until [date] or
ability to talk to the media
“Media Advisory.” Pan-Asian Organization Launches City-Wide Voter Regis- contact on first try), and
tration Campaign to Register 1,000 People cell number. Write it flush
against the right side of
Your City, September 6 – The Pan-Asian Organization will be kicking the page.
off its Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Campaign on September 8th, 2008
with a rally in the Community Center at noon.
The headline should be
catchy to draw the re-
"Only one out of three Asian Americans are registered to vote in the porters’ attention. Write
Date of issue should
United States," says Pan-Asian Organization Chair, "it is our goal to it in a complete sen-
be spelled out, not encourage more Asian Americans to let their voices be heard in the tence, capitalized or
abbreviated. democratic process. That's why we want to help every student, and bolded, and centered.
especially Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) register to
vote."
The first paragraph
Direct quotations would All citizens will be given the opportunity to register to vote between is the lead. The lead
be best suited from a 11:00am and 4:30pm in the lobby of the Community Center. Snacks should clearly state
spokesperson here on
the second or third
and drinks will be provided as an incentive as well. the Who, What,
When, Where Why
paragraph. Be sure to and How – the 5
use the full, correctly "Our goal is to register at least 1,000 new voters by September 21st," main elements a
spelled names. said Pan-Asian Organization Chair, "That is that last day you can reg- reporter will use to
ister in time for the presidential elections. Everyone should be antici- determine newswor-
pating that election." thiness.

Write the release in inverted Center a “-30-” or “###”

paragraph form, or write the to indicate that a press
most important news toward #### release is complete.
the top so that the least im- Use “More” to go to
portant can be cut from the second page but try to
The Pan-Asian Organization is a group of community leaders dedi- stick to one.
bottom without losing the
message’s essence. If the cated to promoting AAPI awareness on campus, advocating for AAPI
press release is used to publi- needs, and encouraging AAPIs to participate in the political process.
cize an event, use bullet They are working with Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA-
points to make it easy to read. Vote), a national non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage
Take the information from your APIAs to be active in the electoral and public policy processes at the
lead paragraph.
state, local, and national levels.
Include a descriptive
blurb about
your organization or
group to
enhance branding. List
a website if available.