Media Outreach Materials
Sample Media Pitch Letter and Script
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Back to Media Outreach Materials
Sample Pitch Letter and Script
In this section, a sample pitch letter and pitch script are included. These are guidelines to help you refine your media outreach efforts. Wherever possible, try to localize and customize these materials to best suit the media outlets you are targeting and the event/information you are promoting.
Sample Pitch Letter
| [Copy on Organization letterhead or insert Organization logo] | [Insert Stay in Circulation logo] |
Dear [insert name of reporter],
In the United States, more than eight million Americans suffer from peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.)—hardening of the arteries (also known as "atherosclerosis") in the limbs, often the legs. One in 20 Americans over the age of 50 has P.A.D., and many of those with P.A.D. do not experience any symptoms. P.A.D. can reduce mobility, increase the risk for heart attack and stroke, and be fatal if left untreated.
This is an important public health issue for your readers—adults over 50 are especially at risk for P.A.D. and they may not know about it. In our area, XX percent [If possible, insert statistic about the over age 50 population in your area.] of adults are over the age of 50.
To bring more attention to P.A.D., the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in cooperation with the P.A.D. Coalition, has launched Stay in Circulation, a national awareness program. In support of Stay in Circulation and to help raise awareness about P.A.D. in our community, [insert Organization name] is planning [Describe activity or event here. Include when, where, and why.].
P.A.D. is caused by the same risk factors that lead to heart disease. Those at risk include anyone over the age of 50, especially African Americans; those who smoke or have smoked; and those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or a personal or family history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke. P.A.D. is a common and treatable disease. However, it is still largely unknown, often unrecognized, and regarded by many as an inevitable consequence of aging. With your help, we can change that.
We urge you to embrace this important issue and help us raise awareness about P.A.D. by covering this topic in your publication.
If you'd like to speak to a local physician who can provide you with additional clinical information about P.A.D., or interview patients with P.A.D. from our community, please feel free to call me at [insert Organization contact]. Enclosed you will also find information about P.A.D., including information about detection, treatment, and lowering your risk for P.A.D., and background on the Stay in Circulation campaign.
[Insert Organization boilerplate.]
Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Lean About P.A.D. is a national awareness campaign to increase public and health care provider awareness about P.A.D. and its association with other cardiovascular diseases. The campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute—part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—in cooperation with the P.A.D. Coalition, an alliance of national organizations and professional societies united to improve the health and health care of people with P.A.D. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sample Pitch Script
I'm calling to talk to you about a disease that is widely unknown, but affects one in 20 Americans over the age of 50. It's peripheral arterial disease, or P-A-D. It develops when arteries in the legs become clogged with plaque. P.A.D. raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and can be fatal if left untreated.
This is an important public health issue for your readers and we would like you to consider covering this story. Though P.A.D. is common, it is also a preventable and treatable disease. However, because P.A.D. often does not have symptoms, many people do not realize they have it. People who do experience symptoms often disregard their symptoms and believe them to be a natural part of growing older.
Adults over 50 are especially at risk for P.A.D. In our area, XX percent [If possible, insert statistic about the over 50 population in your area.] of adults are over the age of 50.
To help raise awareness about P.A.D. in our community, [insert Organization name] is planning [Describe activity or event here. Include when, where, and why.]. If you are interested in attending, there will be local physicians who can talk about risk reduction and treatment options. There will also be patients with P.A.D. at the event who would be happy to share their personal stories with you. We can set up some interviews for you, if you'd like.
Can I e-mail/fax you some additional information about P.A.D.?
Thank you for your time.
