We are here to help you tell your stories
Does your department have a great story to share, and you think the media might take interest? To get a media release request started, please provide some brief answers to these questions and then attach your answers to a job request or email us at communications@viu.ca. Answers to these questions will also help us determine whether your purpose is better suited by a social media post, blog, video, media advisory, digital ad or combination of different strategies.
What’s your story?
Give us a brief summary of the story you’d like the media release to tell. Be sure to include what makes the story unique, newsy or any human interest angles. If this is a research story: What were your main findings and who or what will be affected by this research? Learn more about what makes a good story.
Why is this important or interesting to the average person or your target audience?
A strong understanding of the impact of your story can help us come up with the strongest strategy to promote it.
Give us the who, when, where and how.
Who are you trying to reach with this story? Who should we interview and are they willing to speak with media? Note: the Communications team provides media training to anyone who requests it.
When should we tell this story? Is it tied to an event? Is there a day of recognition coming up that we could tie this to?
Where is this happening?
How do you think this story would best be told? (media release, media pitch, blog story, video, social media, internal communications tools)
Thank you!
If you have any questions or need help in completing these questions, please email communications@viu.ca and we’ll reach out to discuss your project. Thank you for trusting us with your stories!
What makes a good story
- Is your story new or timely?
- Will it impact a lot of people?
- Is there a threat or danger faced by a group of people/animals/inanimate objects/places?
- Is there a conflict central to the story?
- Has something new been discovered about something?
- Is it a human interest story (will it stir emotions, is it something people can relate to on a personal level?)
- Does it involve milestones such as the first, the biggest, the best?
- Does it matter to people in the region?
- Is it weird, rare, quirky or unusual in any way?
- Does the story involve anyone or anything famous?