What can your event offer that's an interesting visual for television? If you don't have good visuals, you can forget about TV. Does your publicity committee have color slides from last year's event that you can offer to local newspapers a month or two before this year's event? If not, be sure someone is in charge of taking lots of interesting color photos this year, for use in next year's publicity campaign.

Will you allow reporters in the kitchen to watch chefs prepare the feast for a $500-a-plate banquet? Plan every single activity within your event so that it appeals to the media.

If the event is during the day, don't forget activities for children.

Some media outlets might cover one day of a multi-day event, but no more. Try to convince them to come on the first day, when the most interesting things are planned. Good coverage of the opening day will help boost attendance for successive days. Coverage after the last day doesn't help boost attendance.

To learn more about making your event media friendly see Special Report #10 "Powerful Publicity Tips for Your Fund-Raiser or Special Event"