Getting your crowdfunding campaign noticed by the media can boost visibility and bring in more donations. By connecting with various outlets, you can expand your audience and improve your campaign’s chances of success.
Here’s a simple guide to help you effectively share your campaign with the media.
Tips for Sharing Your Campaign with the Media
- Tell an Interesting Story: Highlight what makes your campaign unique. Media outlets prefer stories that are impactful and relatable. Keep it brief—no longer than a page.
- Create a Press Kit: Include a press release, good-quality photos with captions, and a link to your campaign page to make it easy for journalists.
- Choose the Right Media Outlets: Focus on local outlets first—they’re more likely to cover community stories. If your campaign has broader appeal, reach out to national or international media. Tailor your approach to what their audience would be interested in.
- Reach Out to Local Media: Once your campaign has 10-20 donations and is gaining momentum, contact local blogs, newspapers, radio, and TV stations. A third-person press release with quotes and visuals works best.
- Find Media Contacts: Use resources like The South African Government Media Directory (linked below), check the “Contact Us” section of publications, or reach out to journalists on social media.
- Personalize Your Pitch: Customize your email for each media contact, explaining why their audience would be interested in your campaign. Avoid bulk emails.
- Use Free Tools: Platforms like MyPR and PressPortal are great for free press release distribution and can help you reach a wider audience.
- Follow Up: If you don’t hear back, send a polite follow-up email. Persistence can make a difference.
Media Contact List
The government has put together a list of key South African media outlets, categorised for your convenience. Use this list to reach out to the right platforms that can help amplify your campaign:
National and Commercial Radio and TV Stations
- 5FM [SABC]
- 702
- 947
- Algoa FM
- Capricorn FM
- Channel Africa [SABC]
- Classic FM
- e.tv
- East Coast Radio
- eNCA
- Gagasi FM
- Good Hope FM [SABC]
- Heart FM
- Ikapa FM Radio
- Ikwekwezi FM [SABC]
- Jacaranda FM
- Kaya FM
- Kfm
- Lesedi FM [SABC]
- Ligwalagwala FM [SABC]
- Lotus FM [SABC]
- M-Net
- Metro FM [SABC]
- Motsweding FM [SABC]
- Munghana Lonene FM [SABC]
- OFM
- Phalaphala FM [SABC]
- Radio 2000 [SABC]
- Radio Al Ansaar
- Radio Pulpit / Kansel
- RSG [SABC]
- SA fm [SABC]
- SABC 1
- SABC 2
- SABC 3
- SABC Radio and Television Services
- Thobela FM [SABC]
- Tru FM [SABC]
- TV BRICS Africa
- Ukhozi FM [SABC]
- Umhlobo Wenene [SABC]
- Yfm
- You FM
Newspapers and Magazines
- Beeld
- Burger (Die)
- Business Day
- Business Report
- Cape Argus (The)
- Cape Times
- Citizen (The)
- City Press
- Daily News
- Daily Sun
- Dispatch LIVE
- Engineering News
- Fin24
- Financial Mail
- Freedom of Expression Institute
- Herald LIVE
- Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ)
- IOL
- Mail and Guardian
- Mercury (The)
- Midlands Post
- National Press Club
- Personal Finance
- Post (The)
- Press Council of South Africa (The)
- Pretoria News
- Print and Digital Media South Africa
- Rapport
- Saturday Star
- South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF)
- Sowetan LIVE
- Star (The)
- Sunday Independent (The)
- Sunday Tribune
- Sunday World
- Times (The)
- Times LIVE
- Volksblad
- Weekend Argus
Community Radio Stations
- 1485 Radio Today
- Barberton Community Radio
- Bay FM 107.9
- Botlokwa FM
- Bush Radio
- Cape Talk 567 AM
- CCFM
- Chai FM
- East Rand Stereo
- East Wave Radio
- Fine Music Radio
- Good News Community Radio
- Greater Middelburg FM
- Groot FM
- Gugs FM
- Hellenic Radio
- Highway Radio
- Hindvani
- I FM
- Impact Radio
- Jozi FM
- Khanya FM
- Khayelitsha FM
- Kingfisher FM
- Lentswe Stereo
- Letlhabile Community Radio
- Link FM
- Maputaland Community Radio
- Mash FM
- Mbhashe FM
- MFM
- Moletsi FM
- Moretele Community Radio
- Newskoop
- Nongoma FM
- Overvaal Stereo
- Pretoria FM
- QwaQwa Radio
- Radio 1584
- Radio 786
- Radio Alpha
- Radio Helderberg
- Radio Islam
- Radio KC
- Radio Khwezi
- Radio Kragbron
- Radio Mafisa
- Radio Namakwaland
- Radio Riverside 98.2 FM
- Radio Teemaneng Stereo
- Radio Turf
- Radio TUT
- Radio Veritas
- Rainbow FM
- RMR
- SA Youth FM
- Soshanguve Community Radio
- UCR-FM
- UCT Radio
- Ujfm
- Univen Radio
- Valley fm
- Voice of Tembisa FM 87.6
- Voice of the Cape
- Vukani Community Radio
- XK FM [SABC]
- Zibonele Community Radio
Community and Regional Newspapers
- African Reporter
- Alberton Record
- Athlone News
- Barkly East Reporter
- Bedfordview and Edenvale News
- Benoni City Times
- Berea Mail
- Bloemnuus
- Boksburg Advertiser
- Bosveld Review
- Brakpan Herald
- Brits Pos
- Capricorn Vocie
- City Vision
- Diamond Fields Advertiser
- Die Hoorn
- Distrikspos
- Eikestad nuus
- Estcourt and Midlands News
- Express
- False Bay Echo
- Financial and Advisory News (FAnews)
- Fourways Review
- Gemsbok
- Go! & Express
- Greytown Gazette
- Highlands Panorama News
- Highvelder
- Highway Mail
- Ilanga
- IOL / Independent Newspapers
- Kempton Express
- Klerksdorp Record
- Knysna Plett Herald
- Kormorant
- Kroonnuus
- Laudium Sun
- Letaba Herald
- Limpopo Magazine
- Limpopo Mirror
- Lowvelder
- Maritzburg Echo
- Maritzburg Fever
- Middelburg Observer
- Midrand Reporter
- Mogol Post
- Mopani Herald
- Mossel Bay Advertiser
- Mpumalanga News
- Muslim Views
- Natal Witness (The)
- Newcastle Advertiser
- NewsFlash News Agency
- NisMedia
- Noord Kaap Koerant
- North Coast Courier
- North Eastern Tribune
- Northcliff/Melville Times
- Northern KwaZulu-Natal Courier
- Northglen News
- Ons Stad
- Paarl Post
- Parys Gazette
- Port Elizabeth Express
- Pos (Die)
- Potchefstroom Herald
- Pretoria Moot Rekord
- Print Unlimited
- Randburg Sun
- Ridge Times
- Roodepoort Record
- Rustenburg Herald
- Sandton Chronicle
- Sedibeng Ster
- South Coast Herald
- South Coast Sun
- Southern Courier
- Southern Mail
- Southern Suburbs Tatler
- Southlands Sun
- Springs Advertiser
- Streeknuus
- Suid Kaap Forum
- Tembisan
- Thisability
- Township Times Community News
- Uitenhage and Despatch News (UDNews)
- Umhlanga Life
- Vaal Weekblad
- Weekend Witness
- Witbank News
- Zoutpansberg
Foreign Media in South Africa
- ARD German TV
- Bloomberg News
- British Broadcasting Corporation News (BBC News)
- Cable News Network (CNN)
- CBS News: Africa Bureau
- Chicago Tribune
- Chinanews SA
- Deutshe Press Agentuur
- Diaro de Noticias
- Dow Jones
- Economist (The)
- Europaeische Sicherheit
- Financial Times
- Foreign Correspondents Association of Southern Africa (FCA)
- German Public Radio
- Globe and Mail (The)
- Globecast
- Inter Press Service – Africa
- International Media Representatives (Pty) Ltd
- Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
- News Agency of Nigeria
- Sky News
- Time Magazine
- Trans World Radio
Freelance Journalists in South Africa
Free Online submission platforms with direct links:
- Good Things Guy: Submit a Positive Story
- MyPR: Submit a Press Release
- PressPortal: Submit a Press Release
- Bizcommunity: Submit News or a Press Release
- Media Update: Submit News or Articles
For an extensive list of media contacts, please refer to the Government of South Africa’s Media Directory.
By utilising these contacts and following these tips, you can effectively increase the reach and impact of your crowdfunding campaign.
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