Improving Bystander CPR, Community Mobilization and Outreach Using Media Influence
All of you sitting out there have great stories to tell. Stories that will save lives. And news organizations want them. You just need to figure out how to get the stories out in your communities and better yet, how to get the news organizations to get them out for you. Because the holy grail of any public relations effort, any educational effort, that aims to reach a mass audience through mass media is a staff written story. And changes in the news industry that are challenging newsrooms across the country are in your favor. My comments are based on a working knowledge of small, community news organizations, not the big guys, but I believe the same holds true them as well. It’s no secret that the number of reporters and photographers and editors in traditional newsrooms is shrinking. But news editors still have holes to fill in print editions and they face a constant challenge to keep their websites updated with new information 24/7. Those challenges are your entryway. But you won’t gain entry without your own challenges. Those tight staffing situations may make your mission harder at the outset than it might have been 10 or 20 years ago when newsrooms were flush with young reporters looking for their next story. You’ve got to get a reporter or editor to take the time to listen to you and they’re all wearing several hats taking care of print issues and web site updates and social media posts. So be politely persistent. David Hiltz was and he ended up getting more than one message into our paper and on our web site. If I may, I suggest you borrow a line from David. After challenging him to tell me why we should be writing about this stuff as a general circulation newspaper and website rather than a medical journal, he had the perfect line. “If 15-20 people were needlessly dying in house fires in Westerly each year, would that be newsworthy," he asked. "How is cardiac arrest any different?" Perseverance will be key, but if you get your pitch down right -- make it brief, but compelling – you should be able to convince an assignment editor that you’ve got a story that will get lots of eyeballs on his or her website -- and maybe even convince someone to grab a print copy off the rack. Local and unique are the keys to good news stories in 2017 when global news is available from any number of news outlets as soon as you grab you smartphone in the morning. And all of you have unique, local stories from your communities. Stories about regular citizens saving lives on the street because they learned how to do CPR or because they learned how to use an AED.
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Improving Bystander CPR, Community Mobilization and Outreach Using Media Influence
- 1. Improving Bystander CPR, Community Mobilization and Outreach Using Media Influence David B. Hiltz Rich Shok, BSN, RN, NRP, EMS-I Mark Forgues, MEd, NRP
- 2. Conflict of Interest Disclosure David B. Hiltz FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: • Grants/Research Support: No • Speakers Bureau: No UNLABELED/UNAPPROVED USES DISCLOSURE: • Hope not!
- 3. Summary For many cardiac arrest survival advocates, the idea of regular newspaper columns dedicated to improving cardiac arrest outcomes is as heady as the scent of fresh newsprint. The bad news is that shrinking circulation and bottom-line management are making it tougher for would-be columnists to place related content in coveted spots in dailies. We will demystify the process for attendees.
- 5. Why work with the media?
- 8. About the Westerly SUN…
- 9. David Tranchida, Editor/VP News
- 10. Filling in for Dave Tranchida…Rich and Mark
- 11. Back to Dave Hiltz…How it happened
- 12. The upside…and the downside
- 13. Lessons learned and advice
- 14. Articles When the Heart Stops http://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/columnstaff/9621390 -154/loose-ends-when-a-heart-stops-dont-be-afraid-to.html YMCA http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/latestnews/9769102- 154/guest-commentary-crisis-at-y-becomes-textbook-save-of- a.html Ambulance Call http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/9722832- 154/guest-commentary-ambulance-call-is-a-lifesaver-not-an- embarrassment.html
- 15. Articles 911 Issues http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/richmondhopkinton/10 110048-154/state-hijacks-phone-fees-meant-for-911- upgrades.html Protocol Change for EMS http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/9684352- 154/emergency-treatment-protocols-to-change-for-first- responders.html More Must Be Done http://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters/10002943- 154/letter-more-must-be-done-by-all-to.html
- 16. Articles Coaxing http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/topnews/9861645- 154/letter-do-we-really-need-coaxing-to-save-a-life.html Stroke http://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/columnguest/976422 0-154/guest-commentary-fast-is-key-when-you-suspect- someone-is.html Can They Find You http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/9675677- 154/guest-commentary-first-responders-have-to-be-able-to- find.html
- 17. Articles Drowning Prevention and Treatment http://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters/10587130- 154/commentary-its-easy-to-be-prepared-to-prevent-a- drowning.html Hands-Only http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/latestnews/9423030- 154/hands-only-cpr-is-easy-to-learn-and-can-save.html
- 18. Thank You!