Communications is an essential part of what we do as a community. Environmentalists need to think proactively about strategy, message, distribution of messages and reactions to outreach. How do we set up our organizations to communicate effectively? How do we build the budgets, collect the tools, and raise the funds needed for communications and communications tools?
Many of us do not have communications training nor do we have the resources to spend on expensive conferences and training consultants. We are busy monitoring policy, working in the field, organizing our membership, fundraising, and keeping our groups afloat.
We have collected and developed a bank of valuable tip sheets, reference guides, planning tools, and templates that will help you improve your communications skills. These resources are available to you at no cost. We hope they will help you in your work and in the development of your communications strategy. We also hope that access to these kinds of resources will help your organization face its challenges whether they might be thinking about communications before a crisis occurs or training your experts to be good spokespeople.
We also encourage you to check out the training opportunities listed in the column to the right. Some are free and some have a charge, but we feel they’re worth exploring.
For many companies a lawsuit, industrial accident or discovery of illegal and shady practices is a public relations nightmare.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 55% of U.S. households had access to the Internet in 2003 -- triple the percentage that had access in 1997 (http://www.census.gov).
Why Should You Evaluate Your Communications Plan? The way your organization is portrayed in the media is likely how others learn about your organization and judge its actions. Too often, time pressures leave you with few opportunities to think about how effective your media campaign has been.
Choosing Spokespeople Choosing and preparing the best spokespeople for media work is as critical as proper message development. Environmental organizations typically want to pick one official spokesperson for all issues - usually the executive director or president.
Pitching Reporters
Sample Pitch Letter #1
December 9, 1998
Ilyse Veron NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
Fax: 703/998-1857
Dear Ilyse:
When do I use an advisory?
To announce an event, such as a press conference, which you would like the media to attend.
How do I write a media advisory?