Press release to announce appointment.

SconniDad

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Mar 1, 2018
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Hello everyone,

Has anyone written a press release for appointment announcement? PTR included a press release for plebe summer, but was looking for something announcing an appointment to send to newspaper. Our local TV station ran a story about a local girl getting accepted to NAPS, but DS and other local kid have had no announcements about their appointments to USNA. I'm a bit surprised that our MOC had made no press release either. I was under the impression that these appointments are big news and the academy would want this news released for PR purposes. Is it unprecedented to write one on our own and submit it to the local newspaper? If so, has anyone else done this?? Would you be willing to share an example? Thanks in advance!
 
No. Seems like bad form to me.
Just my opinion though.
 
Our MOC did a press release for Noms but not appointments! It varies by district.

If a parent did a press release, it might step on your MOC's toe so I would be cautious.
 
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Depends on who you want to inform, I guess. When DD received her appointment, we told friends and family via regular lines of communication, and also included the news in her graduation announcement cards. That felt plenty adequate, frankly.
 
No. Seems like bad form to me.

I get the whole proud parent thing...but tend to agree...USNA PAO is pretty good about sending out Press Releases about MIDN activities.

One other consideration, if you undertake your own Press Release, be careful about what you say ...a glowing story bragging about DS accomplishments and how he is going to save the world has a way of getting back to Plebe Detailers, who might find it useful to teach DS a lesson in humility. There are times when a little anonymity is helpful, and Plebe Summer is one of them. (Come to think of it, a helpful hint to all new Plebes and Candidates is to be careful with your Social Media profile -- I would expect the Detailers and Upperclass check these things out, so be careful what you post !)
 
^^^ I agree.

Is it unprecedented to write one on our own and submit it to the local newspaper?

Unless you work in the PR business and know how to word such things, knowing what to say and NOT say, then I would avoid composing your own announcement.
 
Thanks for the feedback, but I think my intentions are being misconstrued. I'm not looking to submit a "brag" piece, but simply an announcement that acknowledges the fact that an appointment has been accepted and where and what he'll be doing. Through out this whole process I've heard it said so many times how unaware the general public can be in regards to the service acadamies and how important it is to spread the word as to what they are, what they do, and what kind of people attend. We live in a smaller community, and what better way to showcase the academies than to make an announcement that we have a couple of kids that have made the choice to attend. After all, whenever a local athlete "signs" with a college big or small, that makes the news. It's odd to me that one is newsworthy, while the other is not. Hmmm. I guess this turned into a bit of a rant. Again, thanks for the feedback everyone! Points appreciated and taken.
 
My hometown newspaper/fish-wrapper/bird cage-liner had a section for college announcements. Mine, which I found in my mom’s files after she passed away, was something like “Capt MJ, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. MJ of my hometown, and Acme Academy ‘xx graduate, has accepted the award of the OMG Scholarship and will be attending Whatsis University in Sometown in the fall. Her intended major is chemistry.” (Clearly I didn’t become a chemist.)

I don’t see a problem with “SconniKid Sconni, son of ——- of your hometown, has been offered and accepted an appointment as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Baltimore as a member of the Class of 2022. He will enter into active service on June 28, gaining his B.S. in the 4-year fully-funded program, while receiving professional military training to prepare for his career as a Navy or Marine Corps Officer following commissioning in May, 2022.”
 
USMA has a form with language for press releases for parents to announce various accomplishments. Not unusual for parents to put in smaller local newspapers.
 
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