Principles of Media Advocacy Barbara Martin February 20, 2008 February 20,

“The responsibility of news coverage does not rest solely with news journalists.” —Berkeley Media Studies Group “It’s not the reporter’s job to be educated, it’s the reporter’s job to report.” —Susan Rook, freelance reporter “If you don’t exist in the media, for all practical purposes, you don’t exist.” —Daniel Schorr, commentator, NPR 2

Overview Using the Media and Media Advocacy Using the Media and Media Advocacy 3 Steps to Media Advocacy 3 Steps to Media Advocacy How to Develop a Media Plan How to Develop a Media Plan Methods for Using the Media Methods for Using the Media 3

What Can You Use the Media to Do? You can: provide information to general and specific groups provide information to general and specific groups illustrate a point visually illustrate a point visually focus on solutions focus on solutions create a sense of urgency create a sense of urgency 4

What Can Be Achieved Using the Media? creation of awareness creation of awareness behavioral change on an individual level behavioral change on an individual level influencing attitudes towards issues influencing attitudes towards issues shifting paradigms shifting paradigms undermining resistance to change undermining resistance to change generating stakeholder support for policies and programs that we want to advance generating stakeholder support for policies and programs that we want to advance 5

Definition of Media Advocacy Media advocacy is the strategic use of mass media to support community organizing and advance healthy public policies. 6

Media advocacy uses a range of media and advocacy strategies… to stimulate broad-based coverage… to stimulate broad-based coverage… in order to reframe and shape public discussion about a health issue… in order to reframe and shape public discussion about a health issue… to increase support for and advance… to increase support for and advance… healthy public policies. Using Media Advocacy 7

Media advocacy an be used to: Media advocacy an be used to: shape public debate shape public debate speak directly with those of influence speak directly with those of influence apply pressure to decision makers apply pressure to decision makers It is a tactic for community groups and others to communicate their own story in their own words to promote social change. It is a tactic for community groups and others to communicate their own story in their own words to promote social change. 8

Using Media vs. Media Advocacy Seeks to mobilize community Seeks to mobilize community Motivates social and political involvement Motivates social and political involvement Develops healthy public policies Develops healthy public policies Focuses on the power gap Focuses on the power gap Access: news desk Access: news desk Seeks to inform people about health problem Motivates individuals to change own behavior Develops health messages Focuses on information gap Access: public affairs desk 9

How can media advocacy be used to advance environmental change? Media advocacy can shift the mass media’s focus: from individual factors that contribute to AOD use from individual factors that contribute to AOD use  to focus on social change from simply providing health information from simply providing health information  to promoting healthy communities  to promoting healthy communities from giving people a message about their personal health from giving people a message about their personal health  to giving communities a voice in defining and acting on public health issues.  to giving communities a voice in defining and acting on public health issues. 10

Three Steps to Media Advocacy Media Advocacy entails: 1. Setting the agenda/getting media attention 2. Framing or shaping the debate 3. Advancing specific solutions or policies 11

1.Getting Media Attention: Controversy Controversy Milestone Milestone Anniversary Anniversary Irony Irony Celebrity Celebrity Breakthrough Localize Personalize Injustice Is there a “hook” that you can capitalize on? 12

2. Framing or shaping the debate Everything cannot be said about every issue in every story Everything cannot be said about every issue in every story Tell the audience what is important about the story; create the meaning. Tell the audience what is important about the story; create the meaning. The process for selecting what is left in and what is left out is called framing. The process for selecting what is left in and what is left out is called framing. Who the audience deems responsible for fixing the problem depends on how the story is framed. Who the audience deems responsible for fixing the problem depends on how the story is framed. 13

Framing for content Translate individual problem to social issue Translate individual problem to social issue Assign primary responsibility Assign primary responsibility Present solution Present solution Make practical/policy appeal Make practical/policy appeal Develop pictures and images Develop pictures and images Tailor to audience Tailor to audience 14

So often media reports on problems (murder, mayhem); rarely does it offer solutions So often media reports on problems (murder, mayhem); rarely does it offer solutions If “solution” is offered, the focus is on what individuals can do to protect themselves or improve their health If “solution” is offered, the focus is on what individuals can do to protect themselves or improve their health Reframe: How can society make the environment healthier and safer for its people? Reframe: How can society make the environment healthier and safer for its people? Answer: public policy change Answer: public policy change 3. Advancing specific policy solutions 15

Developing a Media Plan Define Goals and Objectives Define Goals and Objectives Identify and Target Your Audience Identify and Target Your Audience Develop Your Message Develop Your Message Develop Story Ideas Develop Story Ideas Define Action Steps Define Action Steps 16

Objectives of Media Advocacy: Goal: Restrict social availability of alcohol Objectives: Raise awareness of easy access to alcohol Raise awareness of easy access to alcohol Demonstrate connection between alcohol and consequences: vandalism, noise, assaults, etc. Demonstrate connection between alcohol and consequences: vandalism, noise, assaults, etc. Gain support of community agencies and campus officials to support policies to reduce social access Gain support of community agencies and campus officials to support policies to reduce social access Exert pressure on local officials to adopt policies Exert pressure on local officials to adopt policies 17

Who is the target of Media Advocacy? Decision makers and opinion leaders: politicians, government regulators, IHE executives, community leaders, business owners, newspaper editors Decision makers and opinion leaders: politicians, government regulators, IHE executives, community leaders, business owners, newspaper editors Those who can exert pressure on decision makers: alumni, local residents, law enforcement Those who can exert pressure on decision makers: alumni, local residents, law enforcement The public at large who must be educated about the issue and solutions The public at large who must be educated about the issue and solutions 18

Develop Your Message Keep it simple: think in sound bites What is the problem? What is the problem? What is the solution? What is the solution? Who needs to act? How? Who needs to act? How? 19

Define Action Steps Look at calendar and plan for opportunities Look at calendar and plan for opportunities Build a media list with contact information Build a media list with contact information Identify and begin to work with reporters Identify and begin to work with reporters Devise system for monitoring media Devise system for monitoring media Develop a press kit Develop a press kit Meet with editorial boards Meet with editorial boards Write letters to the editor Write letters to the editor 20

Let’s brainstorm how to frame messages to support a party ordinance 21