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through voter education, issue advocacy, and citizen participation. |
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Resources for Public Relations and Publicity Chairs |
Media Contacts
Contact lists should include all major media in the area, including
weekly and monthly magazines and newsletters, and cable stations.
In addition to local news media, include local churches and synagogues,
village boards, other civic organizations, and any organization or
group that might possibly be supportive of League efforts in any given
area. Don't forget women’s magazines and publications on political
or social issues. When doing a media blitz, use the sources most likely
to support that issue/program.
Relationships with Media
Find out who the contact should be at your local newspaper. Meet with
that person and discuss what major League events are coming up. Find
out what he/she needs from you that will help get your events publicized
and in what timeframe. This person doesn’t need to be the editor.
You may have a newsroom staff person or reporter as your contact.
Make sure you contact the right medium for the message. If your event
has good visuals (e.g., a demonstration or march) you may want to
contact tv as well as newspapers. Many cable stations have training
sessions for individuals. Having a member willing to train would go
a long way toward getting cable coverage of events as well as having
videotape that can be used by other Leagues and/or media.
Publicize as much and as often as possible. Just
because you don’t get coverage for one event, doesn’t mean it won’t
be there for another. Keep trying!
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Press Release
Distribute a press release when the public should know about information
that requires action. A press release offers an opportunity to gain
attention for your League's work, and conveys the idea that the public
needs to be aware of the information your League is presenting.
Suggested Press Release Components:
- Date of the Press Release
- Contact Information, including phone number
and email of the contact person.
- THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ______ PRESENTS _________________
(Be specific in the title. What is your League doing?)
- The Introductory Paragraph: Tell the public
which League you are representing, and the basics about this message.
The League of Women Voters of ______is… Are you informing the
public of a League activity? If so, include the title of the event,
the day, date, time and any cost. Will people of note participate
in the activity? If so, include their names. Is there a piece
of legislation the public should be aware of? If so, include the
bill's number and name.
- The Secondary Paragraph: If you have a quote
about the activity or initiative from a League official or someone
of note, include that information in this paragraph.
- The Action Paragraph: Tell the public what
you want them to do with this information. Do they need to make
reservations to attend your event, or contact an elected official
about specific legislation. This is the space to let people know
why this information is important and how it can be used.
- ###
(Above symbol indicates the end of the release)
- About the League: (Tell the media who you are.)
The League of Women Voters of _______, a nonpartisan political
organization, encourages informed and active participation in
government, works to increase understanding of major public policy
issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
To learn more about the League of Women Voters of ______, visit
(insert website address.)
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Successful Op/Eds
Op/Eds are short essays that appear next to the editorial pages of newspapers. They are a fantastic tool
for Leagues working to influence local or regional policies, bring a new perspective to an issue, or react to
developments in their communities.
Here are a few tips for writing successful Op/Eds, thanks to PNN Online, a leading nonprofit newsletter:
- Introduce yourself to your newspaper's op-ed page editor by telephone or e-mail and request the
publication's op-ed guidelines. Then follow them.
- Determine your goal. What do you want
to achieve through your op-ed? Do you want people to behave
differently or take a specific action? Keep this goal in
mind as you write.
- Select one message to communicate. Op-eds
are short - typically around 800 words - so you have room
to make just one good point.
- Be controversial. Editors like essays
with strong opinions that will spark conversation.
- Illustrate how the topic or issue affects readers. Put a face on the issue by starting your essay
with the story of somebody who has been affected or begin with an attention-getting statistic.
- Describe the problem and why it exists. This
is often where you can address the opposing viewpoint and
explain your group's perspective.
- Offer your solution to the problem and
explain why it's the best option.
- Conclude on a strong note by repeating your message or stating a call to action.
- Add one or two sentences at the end that describe your name, title, and credentials as they relate to the
topic.
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League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL)
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1150 | Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 312-939-5935 | Fax: 312-939-6887 | info@lwvil.org
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