Okay first of all, I know that I will get a lot of opinions on this, but I just really need some help. I have tried so much to get letterboxing going in Alaska, I have gained one or two people, but no die hards like me. I know they must be out there. Sooo (dun dun da), I am thinking about giving an interview to the local paper and news station, however, I want it to be a very good one, you know all the right info and that kind of thing. So on to the help needed. I want to make sure that I don't forget anything and to do it right, so how does everyone think I should go about this? (I really think this is my last resort).

Help Please.

Alaska HSM (Who now has on her fire proof outfit, cause I know its coming)

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(Who now has on her fire proof outfit, cause I know its coming)

You mean your Holocaust Cloak? ;)

Since I have always come out against publicity, here is my feeling.
Alaska is so far removed from the rest of the continental US, I frankly see no problem. If there aren't many boxers there you might create sufficient numbers to get your goal, what ever it is accomplished.

Gwen and I did one interview in 2001 and it was with a neighborhood paper and we pretty much had editor's control, so how you would go about getting all of the info across, I have no idea.

Don

I see you're in Anchorage. Have you yet thought about doing a clinic at the REI store? Maybe you could get on their calendar - as its own event, perhaps for the spring. My own store here in Denver has done them on geocaching.

Better yet, particularly re: getting some press - reporters LOVE to cover stuff that's "real news" - i.e. "such and such is speaking at the REI store on XYZ and so on about letterboxing - what's that?" as a seque into a piece - and the REI folks usually do all the press releases etc! Or you could get on the event calendar then approach the reporter to do a piece -with more to offer him/her in the process.

It seems to me if you make it into a bigger something you could create some buzz. I used to do this kind of presentations/promotions for a nonprofit I used to work with and REI loves putting stuff on its calendar that's different. FYI: The title of the person whom you want to speak at their stores is Special Events Manager/Coordinator or something very similar. Might be some longer lead time (think spring) than you might want, 'cause of the season, but you could maybe pull off something much bigger than "just" a news article now when not as many people would maybe want to start a new outdoor hobby..

I'm happy to help/give further ideas off list, if you need. I even used to write my own press releases for my events, in addition to what REI and my other partners did. I have some other ideas - if you want to go at things using this tactic.

preboxed
Denver

Oooh, I definitely like preboxed's idea. This way, you don't just shove people into the LB realm after reading the article - you get to actually mentor them and let them ask you questions and set up a practical exercise.

I remember once a while back, someone's child actually gave a talk about letterboxing at their library and then set up a practical exercise where everyone was split into groups and received a clue leading them to a LB in the library, which gave them experience in following a clue and proper rehiding. (stealth and rehiding would be my top points)

I also remember Lock Wench doing an interview of some sort with a local paper. I think it's even posted on the message boards, if someone could direct you to it so you could read it.

But, yes, a press release associated with an event would be a very good thing. *nodding*

Good luck with recruiting!

-Infinity

Preboxed probably has the best idea. I've thought about doing this: planting a box just for the reporter to find and then pulling it after the interview. If it happed to be a TV spot then the camera man could follow along and no box location would be spoiled as long as this *special box* wasn't planted near a real box.

Shiloh

Oh yeah, I have more to say, but I'm on my way to bed just now...Whatever you do re: REI or other likely venues WAIT until after the HollyDays!

Can you say Retail Land...The Loooooooong wait until spring/summer IS in your favor...IF you can wait. Trust me on this, but don't compete with the Frenzy.

pre

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Have you yet thought about doing a clinic at the REI store?

.....gave a talk about letterboxing at their library and then set up a practical exercise where everyone was split into groups and received a clue leading them to a LB in the library, which gave them experience in following a clue and proper rehiding. (stealth and rehiding would be my top points)

That's exactly what I did in March 2004! I gave a presentation at our local REI in March 2004. I created a Powerpoint presentation, had lots of examples of things (boxes, stamps, carving tools, different types of clues, etc and a raffle prize). Another local boxer created a box that REI gave us permission to place in the store and the clues were distributed at the presentation. (In fact, the box is STILL in the store and the clues are publicly posted.)

I could send a copy of the Powerpoint presentation if you are interested.

Wisconsin Hiker

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I could send a copy of the Powerpoint presentation if you are interested.

Wisconsin Hiker

Oh yes, oh yes, please!!!!!!
Alaska HSM (Who is terrible at making power point but great at using it)

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Have you yet thought about doing a clinic at the REI store?

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(think spring) than you might want, 'cause of the season, but you could maybe pull off something much bigger

Perboxed has a good idea. I think that some publicity would help, if you wait until spring when people will be wanting to go out and try it. Then they will get hooked on it if they try it (sounds like a drug. )
I had thought earlier this year about suggesting that you try writing an article yourself, for one or two of those small local area papers. (If you wrote it yourself it would be accurate.) But then I decided to MMOB.
We got started boxing because of a rather inaccurate article in a weekly paper.( I almost didn’t try boxing because they made it sound so dumb. )

Letterboxing appeals to families with kids,artist and woodsman. So if you have any of those small papers, that are written for those groups. You know the: Things to Do with Your Family or Things to Do Outdoors, type papers. I Don’t know what you have there.

If you could wait until spring, you could spend all winter planning some sort of a media “blitz” not really a blitz :-), but collect several small ideas and then have them come out about the same time in the spring as the Rei idea. You could ask to talk to some clubs or mom’s groups too.
I think that Alaska is large enough and remote enough that you may have to do more than one thing, in addition to the Rei idea. Several small ideas will appeal to people in different areas of life and Alaska without creating a lot of mainstream media attention.
Just some ideas. Tuppence FSS