If you’re comfortable doing so, contacting the media about All Join Hands is a great way to get the word out about trich and its very real impact on peoples’ lives. Following are some easy steps to you can take to attract media attention, either to a local All Join Hands event you’re hosting or All Join Hands in general.

1. Decide on the publication(s) you’d like to target. Newspapers will probably look for a local, news-driven angle to the story (e.g. a local screening of Bad Hair Life), while magazines often take a “human interest” approach involving interviews, photographs, etc. Remember also that magazines take several months to prepare an article, as opposed to just days for a newspaper.

   TLC has an extensive database of publications that we can share with you based on your interests and region. Please contact the TLC office for details.

2. Find out the right person at the publication to send Information to. This could be the health editor, the features editor, the person who creates the “calendar” section, etc.
3. Write a brief letter or email to your media contact. TLC can provide you with a template you can adapt, if you’d prefer. It would also be good to enclose a TLC brochure for their Information .
4. Follow up with a phone call within one week, answering any questions they have and sending a press kit if they are interested in writing an article. (Contact TLC for a copy of the press kit!)
5. If you are working with a publication that has a long lead-time (i.e. magazines and newsletters), be sure to work in a timely way so that article is sure to be ready for the Sept/Oct time frame. If your target publication has a short lead-time (i.e. web sites and newspapers), TLC can provide you with a press release to send out at the end of September.
6. If and when an article is published, send a copy to TLC for our records!

Remember our three key messages!

1. Trichotillomania is relatively common disorder affecting 2-4% of the population, including people from all backgrounds, which has both biological and behavioral aspects.
2. For many, the psychological impact of trich can be severe, including intense feelings of shame, isolation, and loss of control.
3. There is help available for sufferers and their families. Contact TLC at www.trich.org for Information , resources, and treatment referrals.

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