Communication Toolkit

Distribution Lists

Assemble contact lists of local, regional, state and, if desired, national media; research the publication or station, know their particular focus and find out who the contact person is for your type of agency. For each, list their direct phone number and e-mail address. For smaller publications and local TV or radio, the editor or news director will be the contact. Most media will accept information via e-mail text (not attachments), but ask them what method they prefer.

Each state has a newspaper association that maintains a list of all newspapers in the state. Most of these are now online. Regional newspaper association Web sites:

• North Dakota Newspaper Association: http://www.ndna.com/
• South Dakota Newspaper Association: http://www.sdna.com/
• Minnesota Newspaper Association: http://www.mna.org/
• Montana Newspaper Association: http://www.mtnewspapers.com/

Sample News Release Distribution List

Media

• Print
• Major daily newspapers in the market service area
• All newspapers in the local community
• Selected trade journals and newsletters
• Broadcast
• Major TV news stations in the market service area
• Public radio stations that serve the local community
• Local public access television stations in the region
• Local radio stations and radio news networks in the region

Legislators

• State Senators and Representatives
• Local elected officials who serve the market service area

Constituents

• Community newsletters
• Listserves to community groups (i.e., the chamber of commerce), hospital advisors and committee members

Web-based

• Hospital Web site
• Network Web site