Local media is a great way to raise awareness about your Get Online Week event and reach new people in your community. Check our tips and use our media release template.
How to get in touch with local media:
- Head to the ‘About’ section on their website or social media pages
- Look for an editorial email or editor’s contact details. When in doubt, you can always contact their Reception.
How to speak with media:
- Make sure you know what the key event information and messages you want to say. It is best to pick out two or three key things.
- Include a ‘call to action’. This means letting people know to get in contact with your organisation and where they can go to for more information (website / phone number)
- Highlight the reasons behind your event and make the story relevant to your community. If you have local information or case studies (like group members or past participants), feel free to include these as well.
- Have a media release or event information prepared and ready to send them after your call.
Post on social media to catch their eye:
Try to capture media-friendly content from your events that include:
- Attendees having fun and using technology at your event, along with your organisation representatives.
- Our Get Online Week resources are being put to good use!
- A photo of a learner with a quote about why they love Get Online Week
Media release template
Copy and paste this in a document (or download it at the end of this article). Add your event and organisation information in the sections highlighted in [bold brackets].
Top tip: Make sure you check the information and contacts are correct
Free Get Online Week 2024 events are coming to [insert your town/city name]
- Get Online Week 2024 is taking place between 14-20 October, with hundreds of local events happening nationwide
- Get Online Week is Australia’s largest community-led digital inclusion campaign
- [Your organisation name] is taking part by hosting a free and fun digital skills event on [insert your event date] for [insert your target audience of attendees]
- Get Online Week events provide Australians the opportunity to learn digital skills, and feel safer and more confident online
- [Insert a key fact or stat about your event e.g. Join us to learn how to book your next holiday online]
Get Online Week will kick off across Australia on Monday 14 October, with more than 500 community organisations holding free events across the nation to support thousands of people to get online safely and with confidence.
Local organisation, [insert your organisation name], will get involved in Australia’s largest community-led digital inclusion campaign by hosting a Get Online Week event on [event date].
[Your organisation name] will host [insert details of event name, when, location, who it’s aimed at]. The event will be a fun way for people throughout the community to try [insert event topic/theme].
“We’re hosting a Get Online Week event because [add your message about why you are taking part],” said [insert name of representative from your organisation], [title of representative] from [insert organisation name].
Organised by Good Things Australia, Get Online Week reaches more than 15,000 Australians annually, helping them improve their digital skills. From 14-20 October, hundreds of local events are happening in person and online, where people can learn the essential skills needed for today’s evolving digital landscape.
“With the rapid emergence of AI, it’s even more crucial that everyone has the opportunity to feel digitally included and confident online,” says Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things Australia. “That’s why Get Online Week is so important. Our network of community partners are hard at work creating wonderful, accessible events for their communities to take part in. This sense of community spirit is also what makes Get Online Week so special. Local events reach people in need of digital support who have the opportunity to learn new skills, empowering them to feel safe and confident while connecting with loved ones, shopping online, accessing online services or applying for jobs.”
According to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2023, nearly one in four people are digitally excluded across the nation. Digital skills support, offered through local Get Online Week events, aims to empower people to feel confident in their ability to keep up with technology, learn to navigate the online world and feel safe online.
[insert an additional quote or information about your event, local rsvp contact info, plus link to register/find out more]
Hundreds of local events will take place across Australia during Get Online Week. Find out what events are happening near you by visiting www.goodthingsaustralia.org or calling Good Things Australia on 1300 795 897.
Ends
Media contacts:
[Your organisation’s media representative person’s name]
[Your organisation’s media representative person’s phone and email]
About Get Online Week:
- Get Online Week is an annual digital inclusion campaign run by Good Things Australia. The campaign has been running since 2018, reaching over 65,000 Australians through more than 4,300 local community events. Find out more: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/get-online-week/
About [Your Organisation Name]
- [Add one or two sentences about your organisation here]
[Add your organisation logo here]