Publicity

4HMT will use a multi-level approach to publicity. This website is the primary and most important channel to distribute project information. However, through outreach by youth leaders in our network of clubs, we also hope to encourage reporters at local, regional, and national newspapers and magazines to write articles about the project and its youth sponsors. Already, a number of terrific articles have been written about the project, and youth project leaders continue to publicize the project by articles, such as this one in California Connection, the California State 4-H newsletter: www.ca4h.org/4hresource/connection/Winter2008.pdf.

In addition to seeking local, regional, and national press coverage for the project, 4HMT hopes that members and leaders from clubs and units across the nations will place community service announcements in the local media outlets, including newspapers, radio stations, and televisions stations. Youth Corresponding Secretaries at each club, or members of each 4-H unit can use the news release about the 4HMT / Arbor Day Foundation partnership put out by the National 4-H Headquarters (www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/newsroom.html) as a template for a sample press release, and adapt it for their purposes. Most media outlets will respond positively to youth e-mail or phone requests for publicity.

We hope that youth members will write and publish 4HMT articles they have written themselves for their local 4-H newsletters and newspapers, and claim credit for this work in their record books. Also, any radio or TV appearances will be an excellent addition to the record books. Information on this website and writers' imaginations and personal experiences will be very valuable to create interesting articles. Contact local adult leaders or the project at http://4hmilliontrees.org/contact if you need further help. www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualforest