Getting the Word Out

09/08/2003

"All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience." - Henry Miller

GETTING THE WORD OUT

Jennifer Phillips offered advice to advocates in "Getting Your Message Heard in Tough Times," in "News and Issues" the Winter 2003 newsletter of the National Center for Children in Poverty (www.nccp.org). Some of her suggestions:

"Capture the reader's attention like a stop sign and direct it like a road map. Keep your messages simple and don't underestimate the power of pictures and graphics to attract and convince your audience. We created a '60-second' rule with our report. We wanted busy policymakers to be able to literally flip through the report and be able to take in the main messages in a minute.

"Know your audience and aim for new audiences. Far too often, we talk to ourselves. Breaking this habit requires constant check-ins with others outside your sphere of work to see if the messages make sense. Choose your audience and battles carefully; don't spend all day with your friends; but don't waste too much time on your enemies — go for the middle.

"Know the rules of the media game. Do your homework on reporters; make yourself available to the media; have vignettes and illustrative examples at the ready; consider investing in outside help. Part of the success of our welfare report can be attributed to the work that the public relations firm did in knowing which reporters at which newspapers covered welfare and taking the time to prime the pump and pique their interest in the report."

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