Press releases. The local paper always wants news items and photos . Make a local connection e.g. dress as a local historical hero or link it to a local issue.

Ring the paper and local tv up and tell them you are doing 'x' and then you will get in their diary.

Send a press release in advance.

Afterwards, send high resolution photos by email and the press release again. It's worth getting/borrowing a digital camera for your group.

An example of a press release:

News release

Embargo: Immediate

Environment ministers from the world's richest countries will be put on trial in Derby this Thursday (17.3.05) and called to account for their damaging policies.

The trial is part of a protest to coincide with the G8 Environmental and Development Ministers meeting being held on that day at the Breadsall Priory Hotel in Derby. Local MP and UK Environment Minister, Margaret Beckett, will be there.

The ministers on trial will actually be protestors dressed up in masks and costume, and their accusers will be dressed as humans, animals and the Earth, who have all been hurt by the current G8 policies. They are known as the 'Earth Dwellers Council' and they'll be calling for an anti-social behaviour order to be served on the ministers. The terms of the order will be that:

• The G8 cannot attach damaging conditions to loans made to poorer countries which have, so far, seen forced privatisation of water, health, education and other essential services.

• The G8 must stop loans which cause environmental damage such as dams, thermal power plants and oil fields.

• The G8 must drop debt repayments from poorer countries which forces them to sell off their natural resources regardless of the social and environmental impact.

• The G8 must insist that multi-national companies cease to exploit the world's poor in sweat shops.

The whole event will be very visual, with a mock court as well as the accused and the prosecution all dressed for the occasion. The trial starts at 12 noon in the Market Place, Derby. Other activities will include a street party in the Market Place of Derby, a mass bike ride around Derby starting at 10am at the railway station and a protest march from the Market Place, arriving at Breadsall Priory Hotel for more activities at 2.30pm.

Contact: xxxx(name) on (landline and mobile)

Email: xxxxxxxxx

Editorial note:

G8 is a gathering of the leaders of the world's richest countries. Britain took over the six-month presidency of the G8 group of nations on January 1 st . The next summit will be in Scotland on July 2 nd . Prior to that summit there are a series of ministerial meetings around the country including the Environmental and Development meeting on March 17-18 th .

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