Media Releases by Pizaz Creative

Issuing a media release is a cost-effective way to get your name out there and get the public talking about you. As part of your media release, we will research your business and help you come up with a creative concept that will generate positive publicity in mainstream media (radio, television, newspapers, magazines and internet).

We take the time to train you how to deal with the media so you come across as polished, articulate and confident during interviews. We will guide you through the process of obtaining positive publicity and effectively handling journalists.

Publicity generated by a media release is often considered more believable than advertising because the general public knows ads are paid for and media coverage is not.

If a journalist takes interest in telling your story in a positive manner, people cannot help but assume you MUST be good. Public relations is similar to word of mouth, but more powerful because it reaches thousands of people who are watching, reading and/or listening to the news.

Paid advertising is the ideal marketing medium if you need to get a precise message out to the public. If you want the public to know your name and be aware of what you do, public relations is the most effective and economical route to go.

Below are just some examples of our successful media releases and an explanation of how they were executed.

Click here to watch CityTV news story about the Charisma Restaurant fundraiser we created to generate positive publicity. * This takes a minute to download.

Charisma of India Restaurant

Media Release, Training & Event Planning

We researched Charisma of India Restaurant and brainstormed with the owner to come up with a creative idea to generate positive publicity that would boost the profile of his restaurant. We came up with the idea of using his East-Indian cuisine and belly dancing entertainment (showcased in the restaurant on weekends) to raise funds for the ALS Chapter of Manitoba.

The reason for selecting ALS was because the owner had lost his father to Lou Gehrig's Disease five years earlier. We coordinated the entire event, wrote the media release below and issued it to all media outlets in Winnipeg. The media release generated coverage from the Winnipeg Sun, Global Television and CityTV News. The best part was that we raised more than $1,000 for research to go towards finding a cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Media Release written by Pizaz Creative

Quarter-page photograph of belly

dancer appeared in Winnipeg Sun.

Global Television also did a 30-second story about the bellydancing fundraiser at Charisma Restaurant. We were unable to obtain this story digitally.

Silver Heights Restaurant

Media Release & Training

We noticed a sign at Silver Heights Restaurant stating that on Monday and Wednesday evenings Silver Heights Restaurant accepts Canadian Tire money on par for food and beverages. We inquired and learned that they save Canadian Tire money throughout the year to buy a valuable prize at Christmas that is raffled off with all money going to the Christmas Cheer Board. We thought this was a fantastic idea for a media release, pitched the idea to the owners and went ahead with creating their media release.

This media release is the most successful media release we have ever done with every major media outlet in Winnipeg covering their story. Our media release generated coverage from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Winnipeg Sun, Global Television, CBC News, CTV News, CityTV News and Silver Heights Restaurant was featured twice on Breakfast Television (receiving a community spirit award during one of their appearances).

Story and photo in the Winnipeg Sun.

Media Release written

by Pizaz Creative

Half-page story and photo in the Winnipeg Free Press.

30-second news story appeared on Global News.

15-second news story appeared on CBC News.

30-second news story appeared on CTV News.

30-second news story appeared on CityTV News.

Two appearances on Breakfast Television.

Media Release written by Pizaz Creative

Shocknife

Media Release & Training

A Winnipeg police officer invented Shocknife, a "mock knife" with a blade that shocks those who touch it rather than cut through their skin. Now distributed worldwide, Shocknife is used by police departments to help train new officers for real knife attacks. When an officer is attacked with an edged weapon, they experience an acute stress response which can limit their ability to make quick and rational decisions.

The result of an incorrect response can be catastrophic for both the officer and the attacker. Shocknife delivers a powerful shock when the blade touches the officer being trained. Unlike rubber training knives, Shocknife causes the acute stress during training that an officer would actually experience in a real attack. This kind of training more adequately prepares the officer to react during dangerous situations. Our media release resulted in coverage by the Winnipeg Free Press, the Winnipeg Sun, CTV National News, Global, CityTV and CBC.

30-second news story appeared on CityTV News.

30-second news story appeared on Global News.

30-second news story appeared on CBC News.

30-second news story appeared on CTV News.

Sustainable Fitness Boot Camps

Media Release, Training & Event Planning

The owner of Sustainable Fitness, Allan Zimmer, wanted more exposure for his business so we brainstormed and came up with the idea of holding a Fitness Boot Camp Challenge for local Winnipeg media personalities. Since Allan had lost a love one to a stroke, we decided to make the event a fundraiser for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

Main Street IGA was kind enough to donate healthy produce, bottles of water and healthy juice to the event. With each donation of $10 or more to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, attendees could eat and drink as much as they wanted during the duration of the event. Through a media release, we issued a challenge to local media personalities to take part in the 2007 Sustainable Fitness Media Boot Camp Challe

nge. Jimmy Mac of CityTV's Breakfast Television filmed the entire event on location throughout the morning. Representatives from Global Television, CBC Television, CJOB and the Winnipeg Sun participated in the challenge and subsequently did stories about the event. The event was so successful and popular among media personalities that we plan to make it an annual event.

Media Release written by Pizaz Creative

CityTV Clip 1

CityTV Clip 2

Jimmy Mac of Breakfast Television filmed the event on location throughout the morning. These are two of six clips that aired on Breakfast Television. Each clip takes a minute to download.