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Guidelines to Follow
- The Media |
The media is your most powerful ally. They can reach more areas than
anyone else, including law enforcement. Usually at the beginning of a
missing person case, the media comes to you. Cooperate with them. If
you are not up to doing an interview, have another family member or
close friend do it. It is imperative that the word about your missing
loved one gets out.
Give the media a picture or video of the missing loved one. Describe
what he or she was wearing and where the person was last seen. Make a
plea to the abductor to bring him or her back.
One of the drawbacks about the media is they will stop covering the
story about your missing loved one when there is nothing new to
report. When the case slows down, it is up to you to keep your loved
one in the news. To do this, you will have to create new angles for
the media to report on. This may sound dumb or unnecessary, but it
is extremely important to keep the missing person visible to the
public.
Keep a list of all media contacts in your notebook. Don’t hesitate
to contact the media or even send them press releases. Let them
work for you and your missing loved one.
The Cookes created a large bulletin board with pictures of Rachel
and items from her life. Then they opened up the "Rachel Board"
to other family members and friends who wanted to post pictures
and mementos of Rachel. The Rachel Board helped the media and
others who did not know Rachel understand who she was. Pictures
of the board appeared in the media for months after its creation.
Yellow ribbons or ribbons made of the missing person’s favorite
color are an eye-catcher. They are easy to make, and making them
gives people who can’t physically search something to do to help
out.
A candlelight vigil is something that everyone seems to suggest.
The Cookes had a prayer service for Rachel the second week that
Rachel disappeared, but they waited until Rachel’s birthday to
do a candlelight prayer and birthday service. The crowd wrote
messages to Rachel on helium-filled balloons, and the balloons
were released all at once.
Anniversaries are important. Try and arrange media events to
coincide with the anniversary months of the disappearance or
abduction. Rachel’s birthday was on May 10, 2002. Her candlelight
prayer and birthday service also marked the four-month anniversary
of when Rachel disappeared.
One month after Rachel disappeared, an event called "The Ride for
Rachel" was held. Large groups of people met at one location and
were given a stack of flyers and a map. The participants left in
cars and on motorcycles and drove to various areas. They posted
flyers in places that did not have one posted and replaced older
out-of-date flyers.
The making of buttons, bumper stickers, and t-shirts also draws
attention. Usually companies that make these items will either
donate them or sell them at cost.
If you hold a benefit to raise money and create media attention,
try to tie it in with an interest or activity important to your
missing loved one. The Cooke family chose a Run/Walk for Rachel
benefit because Rachel was an avid runner. Donations from
businesses poured in for food, drinks, and other items necessary
for the event. It gave people a chance to exercise, while at the
same time honoring Rachel and raising reward fund money.
Check with your local cable company or an independent media
company to see if they would be willing to create a public
service announcement or PSA. The PSA is a short videotape that
contains information about the missing person and the
circumstances of the disappearance or abduction. The PSA can
run periodically on a cable information channel or other
community service channels.
Don’t ignore using radio stations. Radio has a captive audience
of people driving to and from work, shopping and other places.
Use radio to announce events that you want people to attend such
as searches and fundraisers. Teenagers listen to certain stations.
If your child is a runaway, we suggest targeting those stations
with announcements.
Television morning shows are another good media source to use.
Like radio, they are easy to get on, and many people watch them
while eating breakfast or getting ready for work.
Remember to try and keep your missing loved one in the news.
There might just be that one news report that reaches just right
person. That person may be the one that can help bring your
loved one home.
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