Suggested PR opportunities....

[JBOYLE]

To help get the word out about Studebakers...
As a 25 year PR and media guy, may I suggest some PR opportunities for local chapets?

On July 4, there won't be much "hard" news..just lots of stories about picnics and parades. Your local TV stations will be looking for something to fill a bit of airtime. It might come outto be a 30 second voice over, or it could turn into a 90 second or two minute feature. Either way, you're getting the word out about our cars and chapters.
No effort, no gain.

If you plan anything about driving or a show, send out a brief news release telling the local TV stations and paper what youy'll be doing.
Keep it local...make it sound fun.
Stress visuals..what the TV stations can see.
You might want to stress the fact that Studebaker was the oldest vehicle company when it shut down and the "nostalgia" angle that for the members of the local chapter, Studebakers still live.

Appoint someone to write and send out the release and be the one contact with the media (avoid too many cooks...etc,) and give good cell numbers for the day.
Make sure someone can..and is willing...to talk to the TV stations. Nothing made me madder than going to an event and finding it half-baked...and the old guy everyone tells you to talk to says something like "Talk to Joe, he knows more that I do".
Think of the media as your guests...you invited them, so take care of them when it comes to what they need...pictures and maybe an interview.

Just some ideas...


63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[clonelark]

Before you leave that day write down your mileage and see how many miles you drive. When your finished for the day write that down. Maybe we can all post what we drove that day.


clonelark

[garyash]

Now that you have divulged that you are a PR guy, you might just get drafted for some work!

What IDYSD needs now is a press kit to mail out (or email out these days). We need to hit up TV and radio stations, as well as the network HQ's. We also need to send info out to all of the car magazines. Something written with the official blessing of SDC, very "punched up", would be good. A press kit would make it easier for the local groups to give good stuff to their newspapers and stations. The point of the kit should be to tell people that we'll all be out there driving on July 4 so that people can look for us and wave. The press kit needs a one-page PDF flyer with some typical photos and a 2-paragraph description of the event along with names and contact info, a page with the history of Studebaker, and maybe a reprint or two of artciels about restoring and driving Studebakers.

Because few people like to get huge files emailed to them - and many people block emails with attachments - we need a web site location for media people to download high-resolution pictures and some videos that they can use. Does Bob Shaw have some high res video that can be shown on broadcast TV?

It would also help to hit up a couple of high-profile people like Jay Leno, a known car guy. Maybe he'd even have Matthew on the show and a Studebaker or two ...or six. Anyone know Leno?

In fact, there isn't a lot of time left to do this kind of work because TV and magazines have very long lead times for stuff like this. Volunteers?

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by garyash
It would also help to hit up a couple of high-profile people like Jay Leno, a known car guy. Maybe he'd even have Matthew on the show and a Studebaker or two ...or six. Anyone know Leno?

Great idea Gary. When we made our Potomac Chapter Route 66 trip in 2003, a member of the Inland Empire Chapter got us in the Tonight Show which included being mentioned in Jay's monolog and then going on stage with him after the show. He talked Avantis with me, but said he didn't have any Studebakers.


Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430

[DEEPNHOCK]

THAT sounds like a challenge!
Sort of like the old Mobil Oil Economy runs, or the USAC driving records...
The possibilities are endless!
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by clonelark

Before you leave that day write down your mileage and see how many miles you drive. When your finished for the day write that down. Maybe we can all post what we drove that day.

http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[Guest]

I submitted the event to Chase's Calendar of Events, used by media primarily, and received word from them DYSD will be included starting with the 2010 edition. Hot dang!