Using Media Clips to Promote Sending
From AFSWiki
The power of media is strong.
Just like anyone, families and students reading media stories use the information presented to form an impression and picture in their mind of what an AFS experience is like. It also gives them the opportunity to imagine themselves in the situation - which is the first step toward actually having the experience. Also, most people see media stories as independent sources of information, as opposed to materials and brochures that we create ourselves (which of course would speak well about us).
Luckily, we at AFS do gets lots of positive press. Having families read stories that are local to their communities is a good way to introduce AFS to them, get them thinking about whether they'd like to study abroad, and makes it easier for us to talk to them.
Positive media stories are also a good thing to leave with potential exchange students that have already contacted us. As you put together information packages and the like, including positive media stories gives further evidence of what studying abroad can mean to a student and lets the student imagine what it would be like to study abroad, and can help convince them that it is the right thing to do. Plus, it's an "outside" source of information that people are likely to trust.
If possible, local Area Teams should present local media story clippings to students and parents that are interested. Knowing that someone across town or in the county had this experience can mean more than the fact that a student halfway across the country had a good time studying abroad. However, sometimes it can be hard to find a story based on the state, county, or city the family happens to be from. In that case, stories from across the country still carry weight and should be used.
Just one more tool to help you recruit students to study abroad.
Positive press stories
- Haggard to Study Abroad Duncan, OK (July 2009)
- Oberlin Student off to India in Foreign Exchange Program Elyria, Ohio (June 2009)
- Urge to Help Leads Student to Africa Fall River, Mass (June 2009)
- Idaho High Schoolers Head to the Middle East For Exchange Program Idaho (June 2009)
- AFS: World Peace Begins in High School The Huffington Post (May 2009)
- Experience Has Given a New World View New Bedford, MA (April 2009)
- Summer in Cairo a Life-Changing Experience Buffalo, NY (February 2009)
- Still Climbing Mountains Marietta, GA (October 2008)
- German Experience Hard to Put Into Words Marietta, GA (September 2008)
- Local Teen Reaches Across Cultures San Mateo County, CA (September 2008)
- Eagle Scout a Non-So-Typical Teen Oxford, Ohio (September 2008)
- Spending My Senior Year in Germany Marietta, GA (August 2008)
- Ciao Italia! Student Packs Bags for Study Abroad Rhode Island (August 2008)
- Girl's Trip to Ghana a Changing Experience Berlin MD (August 2008)
- Summer School in Egypt Connecticut (July 2008)
- Outstanding Senior to Explore Italy Minnesota (July 2008)
- Newport Student Anticipates Exchange Journey to Hungary Oregon (June 2008)
- AFS Student Exchange Program Changes Lives Westchester NY (April 2008)
- Oak Ridge High School graduate establishes international study scholarship Tennessee (April 2008)
- Newport Student Anticipates Exchange to Hungary Oregon (April 2008)
- Oneonta High School Student will Study in Germany New York (April 2008)
- Following Her Dreams St. Helena California (March 2008)
- Turkish AFS Student Enjoys Experience (March 2008) (Good discussion about sending near end of article.)
- Reflections on South Africa Exchange Experience Minnesota (January 2008)
Stories about factual context of international exchange
- The Decline in America's Reputation: Why? (Congressional report dated June 11, 2008)
