We hope you agree that during the LHST project teachers and students were involved in an unparalleled experience in educational technology and science reform. Connecting students for the first time with Hubble scientists and researchers as they served as "co- investigators" in an unprecedented learning adventure surely was worthy of press coverage.
We also feel it is important that you share your efforts with the administration, school board members, and community. Making the public aware of the extra efforts dedicated to quality science teaching and learning is an important part of your outreach efforts. Sharing the Passport project also helped "spread the word" and promote broader local/regional involvement.
This kit will provide you with valuable hints to consider as you prepare your own special Press Releases. You will no doubt want to alter the sample release to fit your own unique situation.
Sincerely,
The Passport to Knowledge Team
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Note: Different media people may prefer press releases of different lengths, but it is more common that more information is appreciated rather than less.
Use school/office stationery. Never use carbon copies, although Xerox copies are fine, and always keep a copy of every release you send out.
If you must ask for a specific publication date, it should read: EMBARGOED UNTIL (DATE AND TIME). Avoid "hold releases" whenever possible. Always start copy 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down the page so the editor will have space to write a headline for the story and give other instructions.
The best time to hold a press event is between late morning and early afternoon, while the best days are Monday through Friday, since there are fewer reporters, camera crews, and editors assigned to weekends.
Most "sound bites" are typically a maximum of fifteen seconds in length and it is often helpful to practice answering anticipated questions in such tight time frames.
*Attach printed background material along with your Press Release and give the reporter at least a few days to become familiar with the materials.
Capture your students doing hands-on activities, actively engaged in a demonstration, working with a model of the Hubble, planetary system, amateur astronomer, etc.
Local Television....
Live From the Hubble Space Telescope Project
For use by participating schools
Remember: Use letterhead stationery!
********************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
For more information, contact:
Insert headline here:
This event marks the first time ever that students will
serve as "co-investigators" in Hubble Space Telescope
observations. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI),
Baltimore, Maryland dedicated three of the Hubble
orbits to this project enabling students to assist in the
planning and executing of planetary observations. Scientists
must compete for Hubble orbits through a rigorous
application proposal procedure, making student-based
observations a truly unique event.
"Making YOUR Observations" is one of two live
broadcasts associated with the Passport to Knowledge
education project, Live From the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Passport projects incorporate live TV, on-line
networks, print, and hands-on materials to bring "real
science, real scientists, real time, real locations" into
the classroom.
Previous Passport projects include Live From
Antarctica (Dec.1994-Jan.1995) and Live From the
Stratosphere (Oct.-Nov., 1995) Students from West
Salem Middle school also participated in these electronic
field trips and as one student stated during the Live From
the Stratosphere project, "I felt like I was flying on the
Kuiper Airborne Observatory, even though I was on the
ground here in our classroom!"
The West Salem students contributed to an on-line
discussion that determined which planets students would
observe with the three Hubble orbits given to them.
After much debate, the students felt that Pluto deserved
their support. Consensus on-line determined that
both Pluto and Neptune would be the "winning planets."
Planetary scientists, Marc Buie and Heidi Hammel,
along with other Hubble Space Telescope team members
and students from various uplink sites will view
the new data from the Hubble observations live during
the broadcast. Uplink sites include Seattle, Spokane,
Munich, Germany; Space Telescope Science Institute
(STScI-- Baltimore); and NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
On-line access will be available during the programs with
student monitors from Mr. Jensen's class will be
coordinating the sending of questions via email.
Following the programs, the students will be sharing the
special group research projects with students in fourth
grade classes. Models of the HST, planetary weather
reports, and space science demonstrations will be
shared in small groups.
This is a unique opportunity to share how
our school is integrating leading edge technology into
the science curriculum.
Please plan to join us for this extraordinary event.
ex. "West Salem Middle School Students
Insert
Make the Hubble Space Telescope their
own "Backyard Observatory!"
West Salem, Wisconsin, March 6, 1996
More than 125 sixth grade students will gather
together in the West Salem Middle School auditorium
for a historic live telecast entitled "Making YOUR
Observations," to be broadcast on March 14, 1996
by the Passport to Knowledge education project
via NASA-TV and PBS stations around the country.