Getting into print not hard . . . just help
the reporter
When Judy Magub completed her year as District
9600 governor she was most impressed by the work undertaken by
Rotary clubs in their communities. “What amazed me,’’ she said,
“was that hardly any of this service was recognised by local
newspapers.’’
So PDG Judy, of the Rotary Club of Brisbane Planetarium, Qld.,
visited the editor of a chain of local newspapers serving
Brisbane communities. She asked why there was so little
reporting on what Rotary was doing.
PDG Judy said: “She told me a number of reasons. Firstly, the
newspaper staff never knew how to contact a Rotary club for
information. They were not listed in the telephone book and club
officers changed each year.
“Secondly, local clubs competed for limited space so how could
she make the reporting fair?’’ PDG Judy offered to be the co-ordinator
for two newspapers in the western suburbs of Brisbane and
guaranteed an article on time each week.
“I asked for the Rotary wheel to be used and the heading Rotary
in Action which they accepted,’’ she said. “
There are 14 clubs (five in District 9630 and nine in District
9600) serving the catchment area of two Quest newspapers, the
Westside News and the South West News.
As a result of this program 100,000 households get a Rotary
message in their local newspaper each week.’’ PDG Judy met with
club officers who were enthusiastic.
They discussed the length and types of articles to be submitted.
A roster of clubs was made so all are covered and if a club does
not have news a general Rotary article is submitted. The
articles are emailed to the newspaper.
The coverage has been in place for two years now. Articles have
covered literacy, Group Study Exchange visits, a paddleboat
project, a Santa Sleigh, an ambassadorial scholar in Brisbane, a
fun run, fund raising for a hospital, youth programs,
International House, eradicating polio and action to help people
with disabilities.
From: "Rotary Down Under" April 2003
PDG
Judy Magub, from the Rotary Club of Brisbane Planetarium in
Brisbane, Australia (District 9600. She was DG 2000-01, and has
held District Chairman positions for Public Relations, Ethics, 3H
Grants and Centenary Committees. Judy has been Zone Membership
Coordinator and currently Host Area Coordinator Peace Fellows Centre
at the University of Queensland. She was a Training Leader at the
International Assembly in 2005 and 2006. She also has an interest
in family and local history and coordinate several local history
associations. She served on the board of RGHF in 2006.