Media Relations

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Explore Minnesota media relations personnel work actively with the Minnesota tourism industry to promote Minnesota as a travel destination. We target local, regional, national and international media in our efforts. We secured media coverage resulting in excess of $4 million in equivalent advertising value in 2007.

What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers:

  • assistance in coordinating itineraries, including lodging, admissions and/or meals for reporters seeking to do stories about your area of the state
  • potential distribution of your story ideas and news to media outlets

Who could benefit from this service: Minnesota tourism organizations and businesses

Qualifications: participating businesses and organizations must promote travel to and within Minnesota; acceptability of material determined on case-by-case basis

Cost: free

Contacts:
Chuck Lennon, 651.297.3291, 800.657.3638, chuck.lennon@state.mn.us
Curt (C.J.) Johnson, 651.297.3488, 800.657.3638, curt.Johnson@state.mn.us

Notes: new attractions and special ongoing events may also provide us with quality 3-5 minute video for potential use with media

Providing a reporter with a positive travel experience in Minnesota can only result in good coverage for you and your business!

Special opportunity: Explore Minnesota Travel Minutes

What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: Through a partnership with the Minnesota News Network (MNN – a statewide radio network of approximately 80 radio stations), Explore Minnesota Tourism records “Explore Minnesota Travel Minutes” each weekday

To have your content considered as part of this promotion, send us your ideas for interesting and unique scripts promoting Minnesota travel

Due By: materials are due 60 days prior to air

Cost: free

Contact: Curt (C.J.) Johnson, 651.297.3488, 800.657.3638, curt.Johnson@state.mn.us

Notes: Copy must be 150 – 200 words on a single subject; you may submit (separately) more than one script for your area, but each must be on a different subject, event or destination

Submitting a script acknowledges your permission for Explore Minnesota Tourism to use and edit material. Include your contact information.

Governor’s Fishing Opener Media Event

The Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The 2008 event will be held May 8-11 at Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point in the Brainerd Lakes area.

What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: Explore Minnesota Tourism seeks host communities to co-sponsor the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener each year. Your community can benefit from hosting this event.

  • More than 125 media attend, giving the host community the equivalent of more than $600,000 in media exposure, and many reporters use information gathered at this event to produce articles and reports well into the future
  • Increased lodging receipts during a potentially slow occupancy period
  • Increased state official awareness of your community
  • Enhanced community pride

Who could benefit from this service: non-profit tourism organizations, including convention and visitors bureaus and chambers; lodging properties

Qualifications: Communities, in partnership with lodging properties, may submit proposals

Due By: We will accept proposals to host the 2010 Governor’s Fishing Opener beginning in August, 2008. The deadline to submit proposals for 2010 will be October 1, 2008. Communities interested in submitting proposals are encouraged to contact Explore Minnesota Tourism when considering a proposal.

Cost: variable

Website: www.mngovernorsopener.com

Contact: Carol Altepeter, 218.828.2334, 888.629.6466, carol.altepeter@state.mn.us

Notes: Proposals for 2009 have already been received and announcement of the location will be at the 2008 event.

EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY PRICING POLICY
Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) is the sole agent responsible for negotiation of uses, rights and use fees. EMT reserves the right to make final determination of appropriate use fee charges, and reserves the right to refuse any request. Photography will be licensed for one year. Please allow 10 business days for fulfillment of requests.

Tourism Industry Partners: We encourage our tourism industry partners to call for special arrangements on your non-advertising photography needs. Please contact Paul Stafford at 651-297-2209.

Editorial Usage for tourism-related articles: (No-Charge)
Newspaper or magazine travel feature stories or news stories relating the Minnesota tourism.

Editorial Usage for nontourism-related articles: (Search Fee applies)
Newspaper or magazine feature stories or news stories that do not relate to Minnesota tourism.

Non-editorial usage

Search fee: ($50 minimum)
A minimum search fee of $50 will apply to all non-editorial requests for EMT stock photography. Requests for more than 10 photos will be subject to incrementally higher fees (e.g. requests for 20 photos would be charged $100, etc.).

Tourism Promotion Display: (Search Fee applies)
Organizations may use photos in pre-approved public displays to promote travel and tourism in Minnesota. Displays must be open to the general public. The organization may not make a profit directly from use of photography.

Industrial Usage: ($200.00 per photograph)*
Internal corporate communications for training or educational use that is not travel promotional.

Commercial Usage: ($200.00 per photograph)*
Calendars, post cards, posters, trade show displays, books and other products that will be re-sold. EMT may consider trades for equal value of advertising in appropriate publications.

Advertising Usage: ($450.00 per photograph)*
Product, corporate, political campaigns and commercial non-travel related marketing.

Internet/Web: ($100.00 per photograph)
Corporate, product or promotional web sites that are not travel related. This category includes only photos at a resolution below 300 dpi.

Educational Usage: ($50.00 per photograph)
Schools, educators or non-profit educational print and electronic presentations.  This use is limited to five photos per request.

*These fees include both print and electronic presentation.

Contact:
Paul Stafford, 651.297.2209, paul.stafford@state.mn.us

EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM STOCK FOOTAGE PRICING POLICY
Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) is the sole agent responsible for negotiation of uses, rights and use fees. EMT reserves the right to make final determination of appropriate use fee charges, and reserves the right to refuse any request. Photography will be licensed for one year. Please allow 10 business days for fulfillment of requests.

Search fee: ($50 minimum)
A minimum search fee of $50 will apply to all non-editorial requests for EMT stock photography. Requests for more than 10 photos will be subject to incrementally higher fees (e.g. requests for 20 photos would be charged $100, etc.).

Industrial Usage: ($150.00 per shot, or $10.00 per second)
Internal corporate communications for training or educational use that is not travel promotional. Non-broadcast

Commercial Usage: ($250.00 per shot, or $12.00 per second)
Presentations, and other products that will be re- sold. Non-broadcast.

Advertising Usage: ($500.00 per shot, or $25.00 per second)
Product, corporate and commercial non-travel related marketing. Broadcast

Educational Broadcast Television: ($150.00, or $10.00 per second)
Documentary programming

Motion Pictures/Commercial Television program ($1000.00 per shot, or $50.00 per second)

Internet/Web: ($50.00 per shot, $2.50 per second)
Corporate, product or promotional web sites that are not travel related.

Editorial Usage: (No-Charge)
Broadcast travel feature stories or news stories relating the Minnesota tourism.

Non-Profit Tourism Usage: (No-Charge)
Minnesota state agencies, not-for-profit tourism and travel industry groups and organizations.

Paul Stafford, 651.297.2209, paul.stafford@state.mn.us

Policy updated May 2008