Appendix J. Media Planning Guide

Here are examples, or guides, of news releases for use with your Honors Campaign. These are only provided as guides to help you develop a release. Hopefully it will prompt local reporters to expand on your story.

Initial Announcement of Campaign

[Note: include group photo of students involved.]

CITY, Date: The (city) (group: i.e. High School 11th grade history class, etc.) is hoping to honor local military veterans through a special effort sponsored by the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (OKMHF).

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Beecham addresses the audience at the 2007 OKMHF ceremony at which he was inducted.

“We are working to identify local veterans who are willing to be interviewed for an Honors Campaign we plan to conduct this school year,” said (name), student chair for the campaign.
(name) said so far the entire class is involved, and that they hope to (publish a book about local military veterans) (conduct a local veterans recognition event) (attend along with local veterans a special veterans recognition event in Stillwater) (attend along with local veterans the OKMHF Induction Ceremonies in Norman) later this year.

The names and contact information of interested veterans should be sent to (name) at (phone/email/address).

The student effort is part of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame Honors Campaign program that is being conducted over the state as an education effort for high school students.

The effort has been organized through the Honors Campaign Standing Committee of the OKMHF Board of Directors in hopes of offering recognition for their service to much larger numbers of veterans than the approximately 200 honored since 1999 through induction into the Hall of Fame.

Recognition of veterans through the Honors Campaign effort provides a series of options for honoring a community’s service members, up to and including induction into the OKMHF. At the same time, participation in an Honors Campaign offers special recognition to the youth who envision and execute a campaign.

The (city) campaign is being sponsored by (names of businesses or individuals).

Story of Single Veteran/Student Interview

[Note: include photo of student with veteran]

CITY, Date: The military service of veteran (name) is being documented through the efforts of (name), a student at (city) High School.

(name) is hoping to honor local military veterans through a special program sponsored by the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (OKMHF). (name) has been interviewing (veteran’s name) over the past (time period) and preparing a typed manuscript (she, he) hopes (to give to local libraries) (publish in a collection of stories about local veterans) (publish in a biography).

“I found out that (veteran’s name) (add information of interest to local residents),” said (name)

(name)’s effort is part of the OKMHF Honors Campaign program that is being conducted over the state as an education effort for high school students.

The program has been organized through the Honors Campaign Standing Committee of the OKMHF Board of Directors in hopes of offering recognition for their service to much larger numbers of veterans than the approximately 200 honored since 1999 through induction into the Hall of Fame.

Recognition of veterans through the Honors Campaign effort provides a series of options for honoring a community’s service members, up to and including induction into the OKMHF. At the same time, participation in an Honors Campaign offers special recognition to the youth who envision and execute a campaign.

“This has been (add comment by veteran),” said (veteran’s name), who served in the (name of service) during (give conflict or period of years).

The (city) campaign is being sponsored by (names of businesses or individuals).

Announcement of Community Event

[Note: include photo of students at event site or around table planning event]

CITY, Date: The (city, county) (group: i.e. 4-H Club, etc.) is hoping to honor local military veterans during a (meeting, dinner, banquet, gathering) at the (location), (day and date).
“Our club has been interviewing veterans since (month) and have collected (number) biographies with photos,” said (name), student chair for the campaign.

(name) said the event on (date) will be devoted to recognizing both veterans and students who were involved in the interviews as well as highlighting (city, county) residents service to the nation.
Those interested in attending the event should contact (name) at (phone/email/address).

The student effort is part of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame Honors Campaign program that is being conducted over the state as an education effort for high school students.

The effort has been organized through the Honors Campaign Standing Committee of the OKMHF Board of Directors in hopes of offering recognition for their service to much larger numbers of veterans than the approximately 200 honored since 1999 through induction into the Hall of Fame.

Recognition of veterans through the Honors Campaign effort provides a series of options for honoring a community’s service members, up to and including induction into the OKMHF. At the same time, participation in an Honors Campaign offers special recognition to the youth who envision and execute a campaign.
The (city, county) campaign is being sponsored by (names of businesses or individuals).

Announcement of Honors Trip

[Note: include photo of several students with participating veterans]

CITY, Date: The (school) (group: i.e. Junior ROTC.) is hoping to honor local military veterans during a trip to (location), (day and date).

“Our club has been interviewing veterans since (month) and plan to recognize them during this trip,” said (name), student chair for the campaign.

(name) said the (date) trip will be to participate in the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (OKMHF) (Veterans Memorial Cemetery Project recognition day in Stillwater) (the annual induction ceremonies in Norman).

The student effort is part of the OKMHF Honors Campaign program that is being conducted over the state as an education effort for high school students.
The effort has been organized through the Honors Campaign Standing Committee of the OKMHF Board of Directors in hopes of offering recognition for their service to much larger numbers of veterans than the approximately 200 honored since 1999 through induction into the Hall of Fame.

Recognition of veterans through the Honors Campaign effort provides a series of options for honoring a community’s service members, up to and including induction into the OKMHF. At the same time, participation in an Honors Campaign offers special recognition to the youth who envision and execute a campaign.

Those interested in attending the event with the students and veterans should contact (name) at (phone/email/address).

The (school) campaign is being sponsored by (names of businesses or individuals).