Superb Story + NPR’s Style = Great Coverage

This is an outstanding example of how one organization worked with National Public Radio to achieve terrific coverage on NPR’s popular Morning Edition program. It also shows NPR’s style of merging traditional coverage with the dynamic communications elements of Web 2.0 –

Layli and Gil Miller-Muro, two members of the Baha’i Faith in northern Virginia, approached friends in their community who are members of other religions about the idea of a new kind of Sunday school for young children … where families from a range of religions would gather to learn about helpfulness, obedience, service and friendliness - virtues shared by all the world religions. Such weekly children’s classes are hosted by Baha’is throughout the U.S.

What made a difference is that Ms. Miller-Muro - who is founder of a not-for-profit organization in the Washington, DC, area - knew NPR reporter, Barbara Bradley Hagerty. Working together, they coordinated with the national Baha’i organization in Wilmette, IL, to develop a comprehensive feature.

The resulting story aired multiple times during NPR’s Morning Edition to an audience nationwide in the millions. But, check out how NPR then presented the story online — streaming audio of the story, photos of the Sunday school for children and a written version of the entire story. Not only did the story air on Morning Edition but it will remain online indefinitely.

At the same time, the U.S. Baha’i Faith spotlighted the story on the Faith’s home page with a link to more information, and, of course, a link to NPR. It all works to extend awareness for what I believe is fabulous coverage.