On this page you'll find tools and templates for successfully engaging
with the press to get your message out and be heard.
Setting Your Action's Goals:
- CODEPINK tends to focus on policy and social change goals
- The message to the media must be directly related to the goal
- We are not just doing media work to get our name out, we're doing
it to meet our campaign goal
- Local campaign goal example: Organizing a Valentine's Day event
and wanting to fill every seat in the theater to raise much-needed funds
- National campaign goal example: Press attention on Bring Our War $$
Home resolution passing at the national mayor's conference furthers
a change in public opinion about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and
national spending priorities
Identify who can fulfill your campaign goals, for example:
- If your goal is to end the occupation of Afghanistan: Congress, national
policy members, President
- If your goal is to pass a local ordinance: Local supervisors
- If your goal is to get a big turn out at a local event: People in
the area
Target your actions through media:
- To influence Congress, look into “opinion leading” media,
such as the NY Times and the Washington Post.
- To influence local supervisors, it's best to go for local media
outlets.
- To influence the parents who need opt-out info to prevent their kids
from getting targeted by the military, we may look for a local newspaper,
a school newsletter, or might want to create our own media (handing
out flyers, etc.).
- To get media attention, you have to give the media a reason to cover
you by either:
Creating news
Piggybacking on another issue/news item
What is news?
- News is something new! Examples of news: new legislation, a new product,
something that hasn't happened before, controversy and conflict,
celebrities, holidays and milestones.
- Other examples: In a small community, what's news is something
happening locally, in big cities, you may wish to piggyback on other
events, such as a war criminal coming to town.
- Journalists cover actions that have flair and visual appeal. Monitor
the media in your community and tag onto what they're interested
in.
- CODEPINK has succeeded in doing lightning quick actions to respond
to what's hot in the media. Find the hot issue, take on a different
angle or up the ante and get creative!
How do you work the press when you're working in coalition with
other groups?
- Get attention at the event: Be very visual, be pink, have signs at
the event
- Before the event: Send out joint press releases, choose the best spokespeople
to promote to the media, regardless of which group they belong to, and
highlight the group that had taken a lead role in the organizing.
How do you respond to media inquiries at your event?
- Bring press releases with you, ask the press to sign-in so you'll
have their contact info for the future, and introduce the press to the
people you want them to talk with. It's really important that you
pick someone in your group to be a media liaison and to approach the
media to introduce herself, offer to introduce key spokespeople to the
media as people to interview.
- Since reporters will ask you, you should make sure you are able to
provide info that you can research on the following pages: CODEPINK
Mission | FAQs
Media Tools and Tactics
Writing a press release
- Write it in an inverted pyramid format: Conclusion first, then supporting
facts, with the least interesting information at the end. The lead is
used to grab a reporter's attention but should also concisely summarize
your "news." Often a quote from a spokesperson is also included.
The last sentence or two should reiterate the CODEPINK mission statement.
- End with ### to signal to reporters that they have the entire document.
- Send releases on CODEPINK letterhead with a date of release and a
contact person's name listed at the top, along with contact info. See
samples.
Distribution tactics:
- Fax your media advisory to all your media outlets, usually
only a day or two in advance.
- Call every media outlet to pitch your story.
- Ask for the assignment desk or the news desk.
- Make sure to include the when, where, and why it's newsworthy
- Don't ask if they've received your press release right off because
then they may not stay on the line to hear what you have to say. Offer
to send them the press release, even though you know you've already
sent it.
- Say that you're calling from CODEPINK. Develop a personal relationship
with reporters so that they'll get to know you over time and will
trust your tips on hot stories.
- Do press calls again on the day of the event (usually before
noon is best).
- Plan out your media strategy before the event.
- Make sure you have identified a spokeswoman. Someone who knows
your groups' soundbytes, can be comfortable giving an interview --
you want YOUR spokesperson to give the interview that will be on the
evening news, not some random person the reporter decides to interview.
- Identify someone (maybe even the spokeswoman) to do a media sign-in.
Introduce yourself to the camera people and reporters. Hand them your
press release/media advisory and let them know that you or your spokeswoman
is available for an interview.
- Write and practice sound bytes to say to the media.
- Make sure you are able to respond to questions about CODEPINK, read
these pages to prepare your responses: CODEPINK
Mission | FAQs
- Other ways to get into the media:
- Letters to the Editor in the print media; make sure it relates to
a news item and is very short
- Op. Eds-longer opinion pieces (600-800 words) don't have to relate
to a story in the newspaper, but do have to link to a current event
(Example: something about Afghan women pinned to International Women's
Day). You can find out how to submit these to the opinion page editor
by looking in your paper or calling the newspaper's switchboard.
- Calendar Listing: To get people to come to your event, you should
send a calendar listing to the local event listings, often at least
three weeks in advance of the event. See
sample.
- Public Service Advisory (PSA): You can also get a PSA onto your
local radio station. See sample.
Giving Interviews
- Before the interview:
Preparation
- Develop your message (Problem, Solution, Action)
- Control the Frame (Your analysis of the issue, the frame defines what's
in your story)
- Consider getting the opinion of someone outside the immediate group
about the clarity of your message.
- Does it make sense to them? What other details are important?
- Know you talking points and be well practiced-practice in front of
the mirror, in front of your friends, and if possible even in front
of a camera.
- Be familiar with both the short term (this cycle) and long term (campaign)
media strategy and how this interview fits into each.
- Know your audience and know the medium (watch the show, research the
reporter, understand who watches).
- Know the interview format and prepare yourself for the specific type
of interview.
- Think about what the others interviewed (the "opposition")
will be saying.
- Ask the reporter a series of questions LONG before they ask you
any!
- Find out what kind of a story the outlet is doing (how long, what
angle, etc)
.- What topics will be discussed in the interview?
- Who else is being interviewed?
- Are you live?
- When will it air?
- Where will it appear (and can you leverage that for more)?
- Prepare for distractions and interruptions
- Keep focused on the interview; let others be "in action",
deal with problems, etc.
- Warm up your voice and use the music of your voice (tone, intonation,
emphasis).
- Be conscious of how you look. Have strong posture, bring relevant
sign/button etc up near your face for video interview. ALL of you is
the message, not just what you say!
- During the interview (do's and don'ts):
DO:
- Remember that this is YOUR interview, the reporter needs you for the
story.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- When preparing to answer: Stop, Breathe, Relax, Think, Speak!
- When answering: Listen, Respond, Expand (ONLY if necessary), STOP!
- Ask the reporter to repeat the question if you did not hear/understand
it.
- Know where to look: at the interviewer, usually NOT at the camera.
When in doubt, ASK where to look, and look at the same place throughout
the interview.
- Know how to hold yourself: stand or sit with strong posture and a
quiet body presence.
DON'T:
- repeat the reporter's questions or phrases.
- use pause words ('um' 'like' 'uh') - practice helps!
- fidget, use many hand motions, or touch/scratch your face (these will
be magnified and distracting on video).
- say "this is off the record or I want to speak off camera"
- you cannot control that.
- argue with the reporter/interviewer - if the interview becomes hostile,
simply conclude with dignity and walk away.
- feel that you HAVE to answer the question(s); you can respond by speaking
your talking points.
- After the interview:
- Debrief with others; how do you feel about the interview? What did
they think?
- Watch yourself (request a copy or have someone record it!) and evaluate
how it went: notice which bytes made it, did they ask the questions
you were expecting, did you control the frame, did you stay on message?
- Leverage the interview! What can you do with the video to further
your goals?
- Practice some more based on what you learned!
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