It can be overwhelming to think about how to get your case more news coverage and where to start, so we created the resources below to help you get started!
<aside> 💡 Please remember It’s a vulnerable situation to share a heartbreaking story with thousands of people. But the outcome could lead to a breakthrough in the case. This is a chance to work with a reporter or content creator to provide more awareness about your case. More coverage will lead to more people informed and motivated to also share and hopefully come forward with answers or additional information. You may need to approach the media multiple times, but don’t forget, this is your loved one’s story and you hold all the power here. Don’t be intimidated, they need your information to share an accurate story. And you have the right to hold them accountable!
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<aside> 🗣 Shout out to community members Angel Turner, victim advocate and sister of Georgia Lee (Leah) Moses whose 1997 murder is still unsolved; Lexi Kakis and Elizabeth Pace, television anchor, news reporter, and multimedia journalist.
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Below are a list of resources and tactics you may find helpful when seeking more coverage for your unsolved case. This by no means is exhaustive, but we hope you find it useful in your search for answers
Example of a media statement from Lauren Spierer’s mother wrote on the ten-year anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance:
“Shocking that someone so loved could vanish without a trace but entirely possible. It did happen and ten years later I still struggle. The space that once held hopes and dreams for Lauren will never heal. It is replaced by an ache fueled by the not knowing.”
<aside> 💡 NEWSPAPERS: www.newspapermap.com
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<aside> 💡 TELEVISION: www.stationindex.com/tv/by-state
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<aside> 💡 RADIO: www.radio-locator.com
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[ ] Create a social media and email outreach list- Build a list of local and national news reporters who cover stories of missing and murdered people. Follow these people on Twitter and reach out to them via direct messages (or DMs) and by tweeting at them. Many news reporters have their contact information in the Twitter bios and use this platform to find leads for stories. Use it to your advantage. Instagram is another platform where you can post content and tag reporters or comment on their posts that are relevant to begin a conversation about your case. Using and following hashtags is also a great way to connect with reporters.
<aside> 💡 Download Templates and choose the one that works for you
Download the Templates by Clicking Here
[ ] View/Download the Media Contact Database
Save the word document to your computer or in Google Drive
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[ ] **Reach out to true crime podcasters + youtubers-**It feels natural to want to jump to the top and work with the bigger named content creators. After all they have a huge followings so that means more eyes. However, it is often easier to get your story told with people with a smaller following. These audiences are often more active and invested in the content and want to help. Do make sure you listen or watch their content to get a feel for how they tell their stories before you reach out—not all content creators are the same. You can do a google search or social media search to find people to tell your story. Look for content creators that have covered similar cases, similar locations, or that you feel would tell your story in an empathic and impactful way. Often if you can get the attention of a small podcaster or youtuber, that will gain traction and build interest. Once that’s done several times, a bigger channel or media outlet may be more inclined to take a look.
<aside> 💡 A platform like www.podchaser.com lets you easily search podcasts by topic.
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