Opening Ceremonies, Edmonton & Calgary, Alberta
How Do You Get Media Coverage for a Grand Opening?
Send a media advisory 2–3 weeks before the event with a specific story angle — not 'we're opening' but 'we're creating 45 permanent jobs', 'Edmonton's first facility of this type', or 'the Mayor will be in attendance'. Follow up by phone the day before.
Edmonton media — Journal, Global, CTV, CBC — receive many opening announcements. The ones that get coverage have a genuine news angle beyond the fact of opening. Jobs created, a community investment figure, a notable first for the city, or a notable figure attending are the hooks that convert an advisory into a story.
Schedule the ceremony between 10am and noon for daily news coverage. Media who attend a 10am ceremony can file footage for the noon broadcast. A 3pm ceremony misses the noon cycle and often the 6pm cycle as well. Morning timing is the single most actionable thing you can do to maximize coverage.
Common questions
A media advisory invites media to attend an event — it is short (one page), includes who/what/when/where/why, and is sent 2–3 weeks before. A press release announces news — it is written as a story, includes quotes, and is sent the day of the event or immediately after. Send an advisory first, a press release the day of.
Plan your how do you get media coverage for a grand opening?
Tell us the date, the headcount, and what you are trying to accomplish. We will come back with an honest assessment.