Your involvement in National Entrepreneurship Week provides your organization with a unique opportunity to capitalize on a major national media push and engage the local media in your community.

Here are some guidelines for NEW.

MEDIA OUTREACH TIPS

1. Inform your local media and get them involved well in advance with a press conference, media availability or "brown bag lunch" session to discuss your involvement in National Entrepreneurship Week. 
2. Important news stories change by the minute and sometimes journalists who intend to cover your activity can be called away at the last minute. Cover yourself by reaching out to a variety of outlets - including newspaper, radio and television - for coverage. 
3. If the local paper plans to send a photographer, be sure to think about and offer to stage an image that conveys your message. Including the logos - perhaps on a poster, folder or podium sign - reinforces the association with the national initiative. 
4. Look for opportunities to get a spokesperson interviewed on appropriate talk radio and local TV segments in the weeks leading up to your activity. If your organization doesn't already have one, nominate a spokesperson and make sure they are available for interviews before, during and after the activity. 

 COMMUNICATIONS GUIDELINES

CREATE FOLDER FOR THE MEDIA INCLUDING
a press release for National Entrepreneurship Week (download from Templates); brochure or poster of your event detailing event, dates, times, places, sponsors, etc.;business cards, and list of partners.

BRANDING
"Create Your Future!" and “NEW” will be used in national publicity as a way of challenging young people to become excited about their entrepreneurial ideas. 

KEY MESSAGES

1. Your organization is one of hundreds across the country taking part in the 4th Annual National Entrepreneurship Week (February 20-27, 2010) by planning thousands of activities for America’s NEW GENERATION of entrepreneurs.
   
2. Entrepreneurs come from all walks of life and a wide variety of academic backgrounds. This is an incredible career development opportunity for all of us to make all of America's youth aware of their entrepreneurial potential and find if they have it within them to be the NEW GENERATION of Entrepreneurs.
   
3. National Entrepreneurship Week is a week-long effort to celebrate the heritage of entrepreneurship in America and the NEW opportunities for a NEW GENERATION. 
   
4. Developing entrepreneurial knowledge, attitudes and skills through a variety of entrepreneurial activities and experiences prepare today's youth to be the entrepreneurial leaders of the future.
   
5. NEW helps the education community and business leaders across the US strike up a deeper, on-going discussion about the power of entrepreneurship to drive the local - and national - economy.
   
6. Above all, the 4th Annual National Entrepreneurship Week will celebrate the creativity, imagination and innovation of entrepreneurship in all its forms - business start-ups, social entrepreneurship and enterprising employees within existing organizations.