Arizona Open has launched a Virtual Media Kit.
Please review and become familiar, as you can bet the reporter has.

Arizona Open strives to create a postive image with the press. We hope to assemble a Media Team, who will monitor local newspaper, television, and radio, and alert us to adoption coverage in their area.

As Arizona Open issues press releases on our movement, we will put forward our trained members who can address reporters.

We ask all members to become familiar with these media tips.

How To Tell Your Story To The Media
What Do I Say? How Do I Say It?

How To Look Good In An Interview
Some sound advice on how to improve your performance in a television interview.

MEDIA TIPS

OUR KEY MESSAGE

- Arizona Open - Affirms the Identity Rights of Adult Adoptees.
http://www.arizonaopen.org - Get the Web Site Mentioned and in Print.

- Let's Be Honest. ALL citizens have a human and civil right to know their own beginnings. To do otherwise is discriminatory.

- Best Practice.
Open Records to Adult adoptees is considered "Best Practice" by adoption professionals, including The Child Welfare League of America and the North American Council for Adoptable Children.

- Equal Rights.
Adult adoptees seek EQUAL ACCESS, like non-adopted citizens, to government held vital statistics.

- Privacy maintained.
Birth and adoption records, housed by the Court and Vital Records, should remain private and confidential.
Open ONLY to the adult adoptee.

- Proposed Legislation.
Arizona Open seeks to amend law in the 2005 session, with support of our proposed legislation.

THE MEDIA IS A HARD VEHICLE TO CONTROL
Here are ways to stay in Command of the situation:

1. Know who you are talking to when you are being interviewed.
You are talking to the audience that reads the story or sees it on TV.
You are not talking to the reporter. Remember this.

2. Take it from the top: make sure to correct misconceptions they have.
Even though we will have sent advance materials, do not expect that the reporter has read them chronologically or really knows what Arizona Open is about.

3. Never use jargon or acronyms.
Remember most people don't have insider knowledge of our issue. Talk in a sophisticated but understandable way, avoiding use of insider lingo. Such as: Triad member, OBC, etc...

4. Don't make things up.
If you don't knowan answer to a question posed, just say you don't know.
Offer to secure the answer later, then keep your word.

5. Know your opponents viewpoints and have counterpoints ready.
It is rare for the media to only report one side of the story. Assume the other side will get called as well. So be sure to dismantle their arguments in your talking points.

6. The press are not your friends.
They may be friends outside of work, but when interviewing you, they are looking for a story. Don't go "off the record" and don't confide things you wouldn't like to see on the nightly news.

7. Just a reminder.
We do our best to stay away from search and reunion questions. If a reporter asks you something personal of this nature, it is perfectly acceptable to state: "I consider this a private family matter. I hope everyone will understand. This issue regards my relationship with the state, not my birthfamily."

WHAT TO WEAR:

Women: Solid, bright colors are best. Avoid all white or cream ensembles and busy prints. No heavy jewelry. Everyday make-up. No fragrance.

Men: Solid suits in grey or navy with a cream or other light colored shirt. Be careful when choosing a tie. Check, hound's-tooth, and complicated patterns create optical illusions on TV and draw attention. No after shave or cologne.

More Coming Soon