Are there goals on your bucketlist that seem unachievable? For me, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. I’ve been playing with the idea of how to make the front page of a national newspaper since my visit to San Marino 4 years ago.
A long time ago someone bought me a book of bucketlist goals, and it struck a real cord. I crossed out many of the goals and replaced them with things that personally mattered to me but the challenge stuck, and it’s still something I treasure.
I figured….I’d like to get onto the front page of a national newspaper…and I’d like to avoid all the unpleasant fame and disaster that usually comes with it. Tabloid trash? It’s not an appealing idea! The front pages are often packed with sensationally exposed crimes, so I didn’t fancy that either.
My first idea for this bucketlist goal was to target a very small nation. Micro nations are fascinating, and there was something truly magical about connecting with a tiny island on the other side of the planet. It’s the same reason I used to leave a message in a bottle at the seaside. Plus, it made the goal something achievable and it was my only clue as to how to make the front page of a national newspaper. Bear in mind, I did tell you this would involve some blagging!
Here are a few great options if you’d like to see yourself on the cover of a nation’s daily news:
Small (but mighty) nations with newspapers! All with opportunities to make the front page!
Tuvalu- 26km squared
This minute Pacific Island manages all of its news via the Tuvalu Media Department– a government section rather than any profitmaking company, which runs the local Fenui News. Why not contact them with a story? Recently, a gift of some water tanks made the front page, an absolute favourite.
San Marino (61km squared) – Having travelled the gorgeous landlocked nation in Italy I asked around about newspapers and they have several including La Serenissima and La Tribuna and welcome news stories about San Marino.
Liechtenstein (160 km squared)- If you can read and write in German Vaterland covers most of the local sport events in this European nation, the capital of which is Vaduz. Their headline last week featured a woman who jumped out of her car in panic due to a spider- which I love!
Saint Kitts and Nevis (261km squared)- Gorgeous nation in the Caribbean with some great headlines.
Saint Lucia (617km squared)- An island nation in the eastern Caribbean with numerous newspapers in print and online such as the St Lucia Star and St Lucia Mirror.
Samoa / American Samoa (2,842 km squared)
The Samoa Observer offers a ‘letters to the editor’ section on the front page which is a perfect opportunity to get your voice in print, while the Samoa News posts photos and videos from readers on the front page. This is a great route to your bucketlist goal.
Pin image adapted from Flickr @lisatozzi CC2.0
Hint: I favoured the countries where English is one of the major languages, keeping things simple.
So, how to make the front page of a national newspaper:
- You can place a paid banner ad- a great way to promote your website or blog in the newspaper, and also meet your bucketlist goal. Design an image with your logo or a picture of you and get in touch with the advertising teams of the newspaper of your choice.
- Interacting with content- a number of the newspapers mentioned above have sections on the front page allowing you a chance to contribute- from bulletins to opinion pieces to international contributions, the opportunities are there.
- The final option is to promote a story as content to a national paper that you feel you could offer value to. If you read this blog, you’ve likely lived abroad or travelled so the material is at your finger tips!
How am I doing it? Can you really make the front page of a national newspaper?
Let’s be clear, I am by no stretch of the imagination ‘famous’. Also, ‘fortune’ is spectacularly lacking. But I’ve loved the creativity and challenge of this bucketlist goal.
You can view my first attempt at getting in an online newspaper today if you are based in St Lucia!
I’m also due to be printed in a physical paper soon and will update this page with the image once I can get my hands on a copy.
Did I miss any ideas? Think you’ve a better route to your goals? Leave me a comment below!
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Not sure about the cover, but getting featured on national paper is not a far-stretched goal for larger nations too! I am based in a country of 2 million and have had nearly 20 features in the largest national newspapers weekend edition (which actually has larger readership than the main paper!) All I did is sent an email to the editor with a ready story. They printed it! Afterwards, I sent a few more. And so it’s been going on for over 1 year now 🙂
So inspiring, congrats Alina, that’s great work! Which country was it in?
I love the idea of this. I was in the local paper tons as a kid but less so since I have become an adult. Maybe I need to try a little harder!
Wow, I never even thought about making a splash on the front cover of a newspaper. I have although thought about a podcast interview, which is nothing compared to a newspaper front cover:) Having big goals is not a bad thing and the suggestion of placing a banner ad is what I might do first. Baby steps for me!
Wow, this is truly interesting and I find it achievable if only I have to pursue more. Anyway, I haven’t tried being featured in any magazine, but I once have contributed in a local magazine about my travel. You’re truly driven and thank you so much for sharing this with us, at least we could get some brilliant ideas from this post of yours.
Haha I’d never even thought about this as a bucketlist goal but it is a great idea! I wouldn’t want to be on the front page in my home country, but anywhere else is fair game – and targeting smaller countries is genius!
Ha Ha. While I have had my articles printed on naional dailies, not one of them dd a story on me 🙁 hahaha . Fortunately I don’t have it on my bucket list but then who nows one day…..