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Harpseals.org Press Releases

Harpseals.org is providing sample press releases for seal activists. If you are organizing a protest or demonstration, a rally, a special event, a fundraiser, street theater, the 'special delivery' of a stack of peititons to a Canadian consulate or Canadian seafood vendor, etc., the media may be willing to put your event or action on the TV news or in the newspaper.

Getting on the news means that you are exposing the plight of the seals and the ways people can help them to many thousands more individuals than you otherwise would. So it's worthwhile trying to get media attention.

The first step in getting media attention is preparing a list of media contacts. You can look up local TV stations and newspapers in your telephone directory or on the internet. Check their websites or call them and ask for the fax number or email address to which you can send press releases. If you know of reporters or news anchors who seem particularly sensitive to animal and environmental issues or who cover this beat, you can ask for or look up their contact information and send press releases directly to them (but send them to the main news line, too).

You should send out your press releases 5 - 7 days before the event. You should send out reminder press releases the day before and the day of the event. You can also call the station the day before and find out if they are planning to send a reporter to your event.

If the media comes out, be prepared with short, pithy statements about what you are doing, why, how people can help, and where they can go for more information. You should actually practice being interviewed with friends and colleagues. In addition, you should let others who are participating in your event know who the spokesperson is, and all other participants should direct the news media to that person.

Below, we provide some sample press releases. Please tailor your press release specifically to your event and make sure the background information that you provide is up to date. Give the media a reason to come out to your event. Tell them if there will be photo opportunities. Try to come up with a hook. For example, include details like, "The group will hold a silent vigil in front of the Consulate," or "Stage a bloody theatrical performance to depict the carnage on the ice," or "hold a funeral procession for the seals." If appropriate, include a statement like, "Television crews and photographers are advised to arrive by 12:15 with video cameras rolling or still cameras ready for a memorable video opportunity."

There are many guides to writing press releases on the web, so if you plan to do several events, we advise you to search for additional information to become skilled at the art of writing a press release.

Sample Press Release 1: A Protest at the Canadian Consulate

NEWS RELEASE:

Concerned Citizens in [Your Town] to Demonstrate at the Canadian Consulate to Deman an End to the Canadian Seal Slaughter

For Immediate Release: March 8, 2018
Event Date: March 15, 2018
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Location: Canadian Consulate, [111 Main St., Your Town]

Contact:Jane Doe, Animal Defenders of [Your Town]
jdoe@animaldefenders.org
202-555-5555

[Your Town] - Hundreds of concerned citizens in [Your Town] will gather outside the Canadian Consulate, [111 Main St., Your Town], to protest Canada's annual harp seal slaughter and promote the boycott of Canadian seafood. Protests will take place in cities all around the world this week, marking the International Day of Action for the Seals . Despite the danger to the seal population of insufficient sea ice, caused by global warming, the Canadian government is allowing and promoting the wholesale slaughter of tens of thousands of seal pups for their fur. This is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world.

"The seal hunt may take place a thousand miles from here, but for me, it hits close to home. These seal pups remind me of my Bichon Frise puppie. The seal pups are so innocent and helpless. It's just shocking to me that people can bash these baby seals' heads in, and not only get away with it, but be aided and subsidized by the Canadian government," said Jane Doe, of Animal Defenders of Your Town.

Citizens will present a petition to the Consul General of Canada with over 1,000 signatures demanding an end to this industrial-scale slaughter of seal pups. Citizens will also educate passersby about the Canadian seafood boycott. This boycott is designed to put direct economic pressure on the Canadian fishing industry, the industry behind this massacre.

Each spring in Atlantic Canada, a few thousand off-season Canadian fishermen beat and shoot tens of thousands of defenseless baby harp seals. In a matter of weeks, a pristine white nursery turns crimson, with thousands of lifeless, skinless bodies strewn all over the ice and left to rot. This industrial slaughter nets these off-season fishermen only about $40 a pelt and provides them only about 5% of their yearly income - in a good year.

Since it is the support of the Canadian seafood industry that perpetuates the slaughter, the Canadian seafood boycott can pressure this industry to take a stand against this annual massacre. The U.S. is the largest consumer of Canadian seafood, importing about 70% of Canada's seafood exports. Since the beginning of the boycott, Canadian seafood exports to the U.S. have dropped by over CAN$100 million. American consumers are putting pressure on Canada's seafood industry to end the massacres once and for all. Today, citizens of Your Town will be helping in this effort.

For more information, visit www.harpseals.org

Additional resources:
www.seashepherd.org
www.boycottcanadianseafood.org
www.protectseals.org

Sample Press Release 2: A Protest at Red Lobster

NEWS RELEASE:

Canadian government announces massive seal slaughter. South Floridians respond by demonstrating at Red Lobster and promoting the boycott of Canadian seafood.

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2006
Event Date: March 18, 2006
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: Red Lobster, 2900 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood, FL

Contact: Joe Smith, People for the Animal Protection, emailaddress@domain.com, 954-555-5555

Hollywood, FL – South Florida citizens will gather in Hollywood outside Red Lobster, 2900 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood, FL, on Saturday, to mark the International Day of Action for the Seals. Citizens will protest Darden Restaurants' continued support of Canada's annual harp seal slaughter and educate restaurant goers about the Canadian seafood boycott. This is just one of over 30 demonstrations that will take place throughout the world to protest seal hunt.

In a surprise move, the Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Loyola Hearn, announced today that 325,000 seal pups will be killed this year, the first year of a 5-year 'management plan'. Citizens all over the world are reacting by taking part in the International Day of Action for the Seals. Protests will take place in Orlando (Darden’s headquarters), Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Los Angeles (where Dan Haggerty, Capt. Paul Watson, and other celebrities will participate), and many other U.S. cities. Protests will also take place in Dublin, Paris, Moscow, Warsaw, Cape Town, Toronto, and many other cities around the world.

Despite continued requests by animal protection and conservation organizations and by concerned citizens and patrons, Darden has steadfastly refused to change its sources of seafood in support of the Canadian seafood boycott. This boycott is designed to put direct economic pressure on the Canadian fishing industry, the industry behind the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world. Red Lobster is believed to be the largest buyer of Canadian seafood, so if this company alone sourced its seafood from other countries, this could be sufficient to end the seal hunt.

Each spring in Atlantic Canada, a few thousand off-season Canadian fishermen beat and shoot over 200,000 defenseless baby harp seals. In a matter of weeks, a pristine white nursery turns crimson, with hundreds of thousands of lifeless, skinless bodies strewn all over the ice and left to rot. This industrial slaughter nets these off-season fishermen only about $40 a pelt and provides them only about 5% of their yearly income - in a good year.

For more information, visit www.harpseals.org