How can I use local media to build up to national coverage?

Start with your local newspaper - they'll print almost anything about local community members. Get that story, share it everywhere, then use those local clips to pitch to regional outlets like bigger city newspapers. Take the regional coverage and pitch it to national outlets. Each level of coverage becomes proof and a story angle for the next level. Local reporters often move up to bigger outlets, and they'll remember the access you gave them. Wire services pick up local stories that then get noticed by national publications through Google Alerts.