Tranquillity Zone Public Relation

Contacting the Media

The Tranquillity Zone can provide many opportunities for local and even national media coverage. Ideally, a community should appoint its own press liaison officer, who can set up and sustain regular contact with the local press, radio and television.

It is important to know:

1.	How to make the initial contact
2.	When to call
3.	Who to approach
4.	What to say
5.	How to compile press releases
6.	How to maintain contact

How to make initial contact

Initial contact can be made by phone to the news desk of the paper/radio station/TV newsroom. Introduce yourself to the reporter and explain briefly about the event, in this case the Tranquillity Zone. If the reporter is interested, arrange to meet with him or her and in that way you can begin to build up a good relationship. If he/she doesn't appear very interested, say that you will send them further details. They like you to make the effort. And if there isn't much happening news wise that day or week, you could end up on the front page…

When to call

Always give the reporter plenty of notice - at least a week or two - before the event, so that they can put it in their diary and possibly arrange for a photographer to come along. If the paper is a daily, try to avoid calling early in the morning, as reporters will be tied up with the day's paper. Try to call after lunch, if possible, when the reporter will have more time to talk to you.

Who to approach

First of all tell the reporter that you are running an event which will be of interest locally. If the reporter shows interest, you can give him/her the details over the phone, or better still, send a press release - or take it into the office where you can meet the reporter and have eye-to-eye contact.

Newsworthy items

Newspapers are always looking for local stories to fill their pages. It doesn't have to be something major. Anything happening in the community is of interest, and something like the Tranquillity Zone will capture the attention of many reporters, because they know that their readers will be interested in the service.

If a report doesn't get included in your paper, just keep trying.

Why not invite your local reporter to a Tranquillity Zone and ask him/her to do a report on the experience? He/she could also invite the photographer and you could end up getting big exposure for the project. Be audacious!

Of course there are many other ways of attracting the interest of the local press and we should never give up.

Press releases

Don't worry too much about the structure of your press releases. It is almost certain that reporters will re-write the story into their own style anyway. The most important thing is to make sure that all the relevant details are included. Here are a few useful tips:

1.	Always use full names and not initials;
2.	Include addresses of venues, dates, times;
3.	Always include your own daytime telephone number or the number of a Bahá'í who would be available to talk to the press during office hours;
4.	Give some suggestions for photo opportunities;
5.	Keep the press release fairly concise.

From the media's point of view, the important thing is the news angle: this is not a publicity puff for the Bahá'í Faith. The press will not wish to feel they are being used as a publicity vehicle for the Faith, but they will be happy to carry news items about people or events in their area, who happen to be Bahá'ís.

You will find an example of a press release on the Tranquillity Zone at the end of this section. It is a good idea to include a few explanatory sentences at the end about the Bahá'í Faith, but it's almost inevitable that the reporter will ask you anyway.

How to maintain contact

Once you have made initial contact with your local media, it is vital that you keep in regular touch. You should try to offer at least one news item a month.

Don't be shy about regularly contacting the newspaper, radio station or TV. They always like to know what is going on have pages and airtime to fill!

Don't be disappointed if the story isn't used. Sometimes they don't have space, or perhaps they consider that it won't be of much interest to people.

Success with the media is all about persevering and keeping them regularly informed.

Press release: Tranquillity Zone

The demands of life today seem to come at us from every direction, as we are constantly under pressure at work, and at home. But help is at hand, thanks to a service called The Tranquillity Zone.

The Tranquillity Zone is a unique oasis of calm for the body, mind and soul and an uplifting experience of peace and well-being. It can be held in any kind of room which is then transformed into a beautiful candlelit setting, adorned with fresh flowers and drapes - a kind of spiritual changing rooms! Participants relax in large comfortable cushions and listen to inspiring words and soothing music. A welcome escape from the pressures of life. The Tranquillity Zone is an initiative and service of the local Bahá'í Community.

Spokesman John Smith said: "It is a multisensory experience of peace and serenity, where participants can enjoy a break from their busy lives and enjoy some uplifting music and words.

"And as they reflect on nourishing the spiritual side of life and nurturing a sense of well-being, it can help them cope with the increasing levels of stress in our hectic world." Entry is free. Sessions last 40 minutes and will be held at … Refreshments will be served. For further information contact John Smith on (daytime telephone number).

Background information on the Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion, founded almost 160 years ago. Bahá'ís believe that its founder Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892) is the Messenger of God for today. The central message of the Bahá'í Faith is unity - that there is only one God, that the human race is one family and that all the world's religions are one, representing one changeless and eternal Faith of God, and expressions of one single, unfolding Divine Plan. Among the central principles of the Bahá'í Faith are: the oneness of God; the oneness of religion and the oneness of humanity; the equality of men and women; the elimination of prejudice; the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty; the independent investigation of Truth; universal education; the harmony of science and religion; a world commonwealth of nations and a universal auxiliary language. The Bahá'í Faith is now the world's second most widespread religion after Christianity.