WikiConference India 2016/Submissions/How to better tell your Wikimedia community story using media as a tool/Using media as tool/resource

Created primarily for the workshop titled "How to better tell your Wikimedia community story using media as a tool" at WikiConference India 2016, Chandigarh, India. The plan is to grow this page to a practical handbook for Wikimedians by incorporating inputs from the movement leaders and resources outside the Wikimedia movement.

General tips for Wikipedians

• Problem statements sells (read about writing a good PR pitch):

Problem statements in the form of a story is a classic example of getting stories out in the media. Often times showing how your work for instance outreach, Wikipedia Education Program or other Wikimedia activity is going to solve an existing problem makes an impact. Just sharing the process or the activity does not excite.

• Target audience:

Generally the target audience of any Wikimedia project activity would be the native language speakers that are looking for expanding their own knowledge base and eager to contribute to expand the knowledge base and provide open access to them. But it is important to target the identifying the target audience; you have to have a clear idea if you are targeting those who are active on the Internet or those who can be great institutional partners. The selection of the topics will vary largely for your pitch especially if you are writing a column.

• The age old art of storytelling (see more here):

Narrating a story is there in our culture since ever. You need to create your own story. A story should have a underlying theme and a goal. One has to do some research in finding the nerve of the target audience and craft the story accordingly.

• Reaching out to the right contact person:

Not everyone in a media firm would be interested to listen to your pitch, not because it is boring but that's not her/his cup of tea! So ask for someone who covers media, Internet, technology, education and social trends, etc. (of course, this will depend on the actual work. If you are running a GLAM event then you should reach out to the correspondent who covers culture and history.

• Don't use more of the Wiki-jargon:

At times we are so obsessed with the Wikimedia-vocabulary that we tend to use the core Wikimedia-vocabulary. Not many people out there would even understand them in the first place. Use the vocabulary that is more common, especially in the media. Using simple sentences with brief context for those that are newly introduced to the readers is always a win!

• Media loves popular figures:

Believe me, there is nothing like a relevant quote from a subject expert that hooks media. And it is not that difficult to get a quote from either someone notable in the Wikimedia movement, the larger free software and open knowledge movement, and someone who is popular locally for similar kind of work.

• Twitter is the new game-changer (followed by other social media channels)':

Twitter might not be your favorite social media. It might also disappoint you for many reasons. But trust me. This is one monster media channel that you can toil and deploy without spending too much of time. Microblogging is dominating over other media channels and might take the position of the greatest social influencer.

• You can be the best journalist because none knows about Wikipedia more than you!:

None knows about the Wikimedia movement more than what you do. So, always make it a practice to write the press release yourself. This also solves the issue of any information about the Wikimedia projects and communities misquoted in the media. As Wikimedians, you are a made author and a great researcher. So, why not contributing to blogs and newspaper columns. "Editors are always hungry for more new stories", says my mentor and long time colleague Sunil Abraham.

Conventional media

Newspaper

1. Writing style for press releases and columns
2. Selecting pictures for newspapers

Television

Radio

New media

Social media

Twitter:

Facebook:

Instagram:

Resources

• 7 Tips to Get the Press to Cover Your Crowdfunding Campaign
• Wikipedia for Journalists on Outreach Bookshelf