The most difficult step for you will be to contact the media. But you will need the media's help to get the news out so that thousands/millions of eyes and ears can be looking for your child. Contact all local media - television, newspaper, and radio - IMMEDIATELY! Contact the national media as well, especially if there is reason to believe the abductor will leave the state. Use the Yellow Pages or Internet to locate and contact all local newspapers, radio, and television stations. Local television stations will probably be the first to pick up the story, but you will want the story in the newspaper as well. You may need to contact the newspapers yourselves to ensure that the story is included in the next edition. In our case, the Amber Alert was announced at 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon, but the only mention in major local newspaper's Sunday edition was a small, one paragraph article on the second page of the local/metro section. Assign a media spokesperson, preferably the mother or father or a close family member. As hard as it may be to speak with the media, the image of a distraught family member is very powerful and people can relate to their loss. It is important they they connect with you and stay interested in your story. Remember, many of the reporters that contact you are parents too, and they will sympathize with your loss and want to help. In our case, the media were very professional and helpful, and they were wonderful to work with. Helicopters should be in the air searching as quickly as possible. Ask the media and police departments to do this immediately. The media is more likely to do this quickly because they have a story to report. For us, this happened on day two, but day one would have been better. The media will want current photos of the abducted child, current video and/or current family portraits as well as a description of the abductor and/or their vehicle.