Reporters are always looking for good stories. The presentation of a Tar Wars program at your school or organization could be just what they are looking for! The day before your event is to take place, call the local newspaper(s) and television stations. Tell them about Tar Wars and when, where, and why it is being presented to area fourth- and fifth-grade students. Your phone call may be what it takes to get your event covered in the local media by highlighting your groups' efforts to educate youth about the hazards of tobacco use. Weekend, noon and morning news programs are good targets for news like Tar Wars. Below are talking points that can be used when pitching your event or being interviewed by a local journalist.
- Tar Wars is a national tobacco-free education program that reaches out to fourth- and fifth-grade students. The American Academy of Family Physicians owns and operates the program.
- Tar Wars provides volunteer presenters and facilitators with free program materials that they can use to teach children about the positive reasons for not using tobacco. These volunteers go into classrooms in their communities and present the information using a number of interactive activities, one of which is the creation of tobacco-free posters by the students.
- State student winners and their families attending the national poster contest, held each year in July, have an opportunity to visit with their congressional leaders on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
- National winners are announced at an awards ceremony that concludes the event. All state student winners are recognized for their tobacco-free efforts during this ceremony.
- Tar Wars is a great way to improve the health of your community, make a difference in the life of a child, and have fun along the way.