Tips for local media coverage

1. We know you are already in the habit of doing this, but particularly with something as time sensitive as Colleges Week, make sure you contact the news desk of your local newspaper, radio or TV station in plenty of time to let them know about events or activities you are running and invite one of their journalists along. You could also invite your local MP to these events, and make sure the journalists are aware if any are planning to attend.
   
2. Again, we know you will already be preparing for that, but produce a brief press release after any activities you hold, and make sure you have a high-quality photo to go alongside it. You could ask photography lecturers/ students to take pictures of events - these photos will be great for social media and could be featured as a simple picture story in the local newspaper. A template press release is below which you could adapt to your needs.
   
3. Make sure you share that release and associated PR to your local paper, radio and TV stations. Many local newspapers (full list attached) will have a National World portal which allows you to submit your own press release. You can create an account for free, and the story is more likely to be published if you have a picture to submit with it. You can also self-publish on FE news. If you think your event could hold national interest, please get in touch with Kate Parker (kate.parker@aoc.co.uk) who will be able to support you with this.
   
4. Things that make for good news stories include student-organised events, community outreach activities, hosting special visitors, and skills competitions. You could also offer an interview with, or a blog from, the principal or chair. Writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer provides a good news hook, and a timely one, given the Autumn Statement is just over a month away. A template press release is below, which you could adapt to your needs.
   
5. Last but not least, make use of your great, well established social media channels and encourage students and staff to post from their own accounts with the #LoveOurColleges and #CollegesWeek2023 hashtags. Tag the local newspaper, radio and TV station in your tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts.

Template one

[Enter activities here] will take place [enter date here] at [enter college name here] to celebrate the sixth annual Colleges Week.

[Enter details of the events/ activities here, including how many students took part, over how many days the events took place, and if any special guests came along].

[Principal name] said: [Insert personalised quote here, could include any of the specific activities the college has organised in here].

[MP/ Local councillor] said: [Insert supportive quote here if applicable].

[Student name] said: [Insert personalised quote about what it was like to take part in the activities here].

Across the country, colleges are marking Colleges Week from 9 October, which is now in its sixth year. Around 1.6m students are educated in further education colleges across the UK, and this annual event is an opportunity to showcase the breadth of opportunities colleges provide and the ways in which they transform lives and communities.

This year, the celebrations span two weeks (9-20 October). The first week focuses on how colleges support local skills, labour markets and life chances. The second shines a light on the role colleges play in supporting the national economy and how with greater investment the sector can help boost the country’s flagging productivity levels.

Template two

A college principal has urged chancellor Jeremy Hunt to increase funding for technical education.

[Name] principal and chief executive at [College name] has written to Mr Hunt calling for an increase in funding for colleges to be made part of the Autumn statement, which takes place next month.

This year, after campaigning by the Association of Colleges and the wider college sector, the government announced the biggest funding boost to FE in a decade. However, after years of underfunding and a widening in the gap between pay in schools and colleges, the funds announced do not go far enough. The amounts individual colleges received was linked to the amount of provision for 16-18 year-olds provided at that institution, and therefore the amounts received varied significantly.

[Principal name] said: [Insert personalised quote here, could include any of the specific activities the college has organised in here].

[College name] is celebrating Colleges Week, which is in its sixth annual year, and is showcase the breadth of activities that happen in colleges and the ways in which they transform lives and communities.

The celebration spans two weeks this year and includes an event in Parliament on Wednesday (18th October) attended by college leaders, as well as several MPs and peers.