Other components of the Legislative Toolkit
Meetings
with Legislators: Getting Organized
Guidelines
for Meetings with Legislators
After
the Meeting: The Debriefing
The
Do's and Don'ts of Legislative Letter Writing
Effective
Communications with Public Officials
Contact
Information
Negotiation:
A Very Short Course
Working
Effectively with the Media
Follow
this link to Download the Advocacy Toolkit as a Word
document (157 kb, 22 pages)
DAWN Ontario Media Kit
http://dawn.thot.net/media.html
Source: DAWN Ontario
Letters
to Editor: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
Op-Eds:
Writing and Publishing an Op-Ed (Opinion/Editorials)
Radio:
Taking Action to the Airwaves
Canadian Media Email Address - Letters to
Editor
http://dawn.thot.net/media_emails_cda.html
Source: DAWN Ontario
Ontario
Media Directory
http://dawn.thot.net/ontario_media.html
Source: DAWN Ontario
Developing
a Strategic Communications Plan
http://www.impacs.org/pdfs/communications_planning.pdf
(PDF file, 84 kb, 13 pages)
Source: IMPACS (not plain language)
Who
said only the reporter can ask questions? Find out what you
should ask the reporter before answering his or her questions,
how you can prepare before taking a media call and tips to ace
your interview. Also includes templates for you to copy that
will help you get and keep your media files in top form, as
well as tips related to:
How
editors choose the news
Preparing
a spokesperson - what to do before the interview
Interview
checklists - pre- and post-interview questions to ask yourself
What
to do when a reporter calls and catches you unprepared
Forms
to fill out for media calls, on-air interviews and print interviews
Developing Effective Media Communications
Skills
http://www.impacs.org/pdfs/dev_effective_media_comm_skills.pdf
(PDF file, 68 kb, 10 pages)
Source: IMPACS (not plain language)
Most
not-for-profits have limited resources - both of time and of
money. A strategic communications plan will help your group
focus those resources on the most important tasks you need to
complete to achieve your campaign or organizational objectives.
This resource will help provide you with some of that focus.
Be prepared: it doesn't answer as many questions as it asks
about your:
Situation
analysis: organizational background
Situation
analysis: external or public environment
Campaign/organizational
goal and key objectives
Communications
objectives
Target
audiences
Key
messages
Communications
strategies
Tactics
to reach your audience(s)
Timing
Timelines
Spokespeople
IMPACS
Media Kit
http://www.impacs.org/pdfs/communications_toolkit.pdf
(PDF, 88 kb, 13 pages)
Source: IMPACS (not plain language)
Not
sure what an op/ed is? Trying to figure out if you should hold
a news conference? Preparing a media kit but not sure what to
include? Check out this resource which answers the questions
What is it? What does it do? When do I use it and How do I use
it? -- For each of the following media-related tools:
Ads
- newspaper, radio and TV
Columnists
Gimmicks
and Non-news Items
Editorial
Board Meetings
Letters
to the Editor
Media
Briefings
Media
Calls
Media
Kits
Media
Lists
News
Conferences
News
Releases
Op/Ed
Pieces
Photo
Releases
Public
Service Announcements
Research
Staged
Events - rally, public demonstration, fundraiser
Video
News Releases
Media Manual
Source: The Ruckus Society
The Ruckus Society's Media Manual provides an introduction to
how the news media works (or doesn't), and covers wire services,
newspapers, radio, and television. A checklist for effective
direct action media is included.
Introduction:
How to Work Miracles
How
the News Media Works (Or Doesn't)
Wire
Services
Newspapers
Radio
Television
Checklist
for Effective Direct Action Media
Download the Media Manual
(PDF file, 419 kb, 14 pages)
http://ruckus.org/resources/manuals/media/documents/RuckusMediaManual.pdf
Action Planning Manual
Source: The Ruckus Society
The Ruckus Society's Action Planning Manual starts with an introduction
to direct action, discusses the functions and symbolic nature
of direct action, and provides steps for action development.
Introduction
- Three arguments for direct action
The
Functions of Direct Action
The
Symbolic Nature of Direct Action
Action
Development
Download the Action Planning Manual
(PDF File, 241kb, 8 pages)
http://ruckus.org/resources/manuals/actionplanning/documents/RuckusActionPlanningManual.pdf
Media Activism Kit
http://www.fair.org/activism/activismkit.html
Source: FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting)
Inside
this kit you will find "how-to" guides for identifying,
documenting and challenging inaccurate or unfair news coverage,
along with information about how to promote independent media.
Miscellaneous
Media Resources
An activist guide to exploiting the Media, by George Monbiot
http://www.fraw.org.uk/gs/handbook/media.htm
A Beginner's Guide to Getting Media Coverage, by Jason Salzman
http://www.causecommunications.com/forgetus/basicguide.html
10 Essential Tips to Ensure Your Press Release Makes the News
http://www.press-release-writing.com/10_essential_tips.htm
A Barebones Guide to Writing Successful Press Releases, by Randall
Hansen
http://www.stetson.edu/~rhansen/prhowto.html
Eleven Steps to Organizing a Media Event, by Jason Salzman
http://www.causecommunications.com/forgetus/elevensteps.html
