Save Our Students: Media Toolkit
Media toolkit resources for advocacy
March 13, 2025 by EdTrust 
March 13, 2025 by EdTrust
How to Write a Press Release for Effective Media Outreach
What is a Media Advisory and Press Release?
A press release provides information to various sectors of the media concerning a newsworthy topic or event. It should be short and should catch the attention of the news editor. They are mostly sent by email.
The main difference between a Media Advisory and a Press Release is your purpose for sending it. A Media Advisory is a brief, one-page informative invitation for media attendance at a particular event; while a Press Release is more like an article, that includes specific facts and quotes related to the topic with a goal of generating interest and awareness of your key issue by local or national media outlets. Sometimes a press release can, however, announce an event but it can also highlight other topics.
How to Use Letters to the Editor for Narrative Change & State Advocacy
What is a Letter to the Editor (LTE)?
A brief (no more than approx. 300 words), targeted message directed to media outlets like newspapers, magazines, or online news outlets and platforms. You may write in response to another news item, an op-ed, or previous, recently published letter to the editor in that paper.
Since the mid-18th century, readers have submitted letters to editors to engage in public discourse; letters can still be a powerful tool in the modern world. Letter writers frequently comment on the role of government in matters of personal freedom or other critical policy concerns. Influential writing sometimes gains national attention.
Blog and Op-Ed Guidance
To successfully advocate for changes in our educational systems, it’s often important to bolster public awareness of the issues and public support for your position. Publishing a blog or op-ed can help. This tool from Ed Trust offers guidance on developing, writing, publishing, and promoting blogs or op-eds about the importance of pushing for educational equity and justice for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
How to Pitch and Place Media, and Prepare for Media Interviews
Effective media engagement is essential for elevating voices, shaping narratives, and influencing public perception. As public education faces unprecedented threats, including efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, it is critical to advocate for the defense and improvement of public schools. Thoughtful pitching and interview preparation can increase visibility, establish credibility, and ensure that data-driven arguments reach key audiences. This guide outlines best practices for securing media attention, using data to support messaging, and preparing spokespeople to deliver impactful interviews.