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PR Updates

December 2008

• December PR

December Report

• Researched radio stations to try to find missions-friendly conservative Christian audiences and reporters; gathered info in Master Media contact list.
• Rice Bag Project

• Created a “Christian,” a “secular,” and a “local” press release for the Rice Bag Project. • Gathered quotes and photos and contacts from mission India. • Asked parents for permission to do interviews/gathered parent participation info for quotes. • Sent out press releases to several CO newspapers and 9 News • Contacted Aurora families to try to find quotes for Aurora Sentinel story (all were low-givers, no response) • Listed in Littleton Independent’s business updates (Rice Bag Project) • Dec. 16 Radio interview with Sarita and Sonlight family on Rice Bag Project for American Family Radio (direct listening audience 2.5 million, potential audience of 50 million).

• “Nov. Report PR an Social Media”

October Report:

Sonlight submitted pitches and links to two holiday gift guides. The publications are: www.emilyallyn.blogspot.com (deadline: 10-31, starts next week) SAHMAnswers.com (deadline is 11-30)

Outstanding (submitted but not yet reached publication deadline) Queries include: Parents Magazine (Raising confident kids) Homeschool Today (homeschool entrepreneurs)

Pitched an article featuring a Sonlight customer and an SCC who talked about the role of homeschooling in building confident children in scary times (financial troubles, Katrina, husband deployed to Iraq) for Parents Magazine

Gathered info on World Magazine editorial editor for a future magazine article.

Sent company information to Buffalo newspaper, still awaiting publication information

Joined Public Relations Society of America with access to further learning, articles, and networking.

Evaluated five different blogs or websites to decide about future giveaways and review programs (wrote those contacts, decided prizes, weighed merits versus commitment).

Began the process of participating in The Old Schoolhouse's annual curriculum review.

Began a list of Christian radio stations for pitches for the Rice Bag Project.

Sarita's interview about Rice Bag was featured on Family Life Network radio news and features on Oct. 20 and 21st.

Public Relations Report

This initial report starts from most recent and spans the last quarter (will be monthly from here on). I will post links to actual publications as available, and announce not only submission but any actual publication as it happens. See Laura Lee Ellis for any questions, ideas or leads on public relations or publicity opportunities.

• Sonlight to be featured in a NY newspaper as the curriculum choice for a private school opening at a time when so many private schools are closing due to economic challenges. Will update on publication.
• Query goes out Oct. 3 to feature Sonlight products on a website for stay-at-home moms (www.SAHMAnswers.com).
• Subscribed to HARO reports to get leads on potential Sonlight stories for the media.
• New basic press room is up, with room for more additions (includes manager bios, media contact info, press releases, etc.): http://www.sonlight.com/press-room.html
• Press release on scholarship program is up on our site: http://www.sonlight.com/Homeschool_Students_Win_Scholarships.html
• Press release for back to school is on our site: http://www.sonlight.com/Back_to_Home_School.html
• Submitted a back to school “feature” article press release to several Denver papers and AP newswire (Colorado and national) and 9News
• Submitted a “pitch” to editor of Homeschool Today for an article including John and Sarita and incorporating “entrepreneurship” into homeschool
• The “how to write a press release” tool for homeschool parents to publicize their homeschool is under construction on the test site
• Media list and magazine list is in the early stages, with writer's guidelines for about twelve publications. This list will be the target for byline articles by Sarita or other Sonlight writers to establish authority in the homeschool market.
• Achieved initial contact with several local education editors (progress toward the media relationships goal)
• Sonlight mentioned in Mississippi online newspaper (quoted Kelly Lutman): http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080816/NEWS01/80816012
• Sonlight mentioned in a French magazine that showed up on Google Alerts.
• Sarita spoke at Heart of the Matter, where they featured her bio (http://www.sonlight.com/employee-profiles.html), as well as Sonlight’s virtual booth as her background display
• Sarita’s blog (http://www.saritaatsonlight.com/) is up, as well as Judy’s.
• 16 PR strategies were laid out as a game plan for the next year and a half
• Initial idea/copy for press release tool was written and approved
• PR/ direct marketing effort to build relationships with churches (community centers, etc.) nationwide was generally approved for next spring