Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions SOME RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS “ROUNDS” Social affairs Workplace Politics Education Legal/Courts Women Children/Youth affairs Health Indigenous affairs Environment Once you know which media outlets and which reporters you want to reach, you can start to create a media contact list. A media contact list includes: • Contact names of reporters, editors or producers • Contact information, such as phone number, email address, Twitter account • Working details, such as which stories they cover, their preferred way to receive information (e.g. email, Twitter) and so on • Deadlines for filing stories. If you are not sure where to start, call the media outlet and ask to speak to their news desk. The news editor will be able to direct you to the right journalist for each round. Phone numbers for each media outlet should be easily available online. A contact list takes time to put together but it is an essential tool for NHRI staff working with the media. It should also be constantly checked and updated. Journalists are regularly transferred to cover different rounds or move between organizations. In addition to identifying reporters assigned to specific rounds, NHRIs should ensure that their media contact list includes: prominent columnists and commentators; key freelance journalists; producers for radio and television current affairs/talk shows; leading bloggers; and communications staff working with key government, civil society and partner organizations. 8 | Chapter 1: Working effectively with the media