Communicating Conservation - Mobilizing Political Support for Clean and Healthy Waters

Choose Clean Water Conference01/11/2010

Speakers

• Eric Eckl, Water Words That Work, LLC• Danielle Brigida, National Wildlife

Federation• Dick Brooks, Action Media• Travis Loop, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency

Mobilizing Political Support

Earth Day, 1995, Havre de Grace, Maryland

Agenda

• Introductions• Panelist Critiques• Breakout Groups• Judging• Selection of the next “Iron Flack”

Eric Eckl

Eric’s Main Points

• “Environmental Awareness” is somewhat of a myth

• If you want people to do something, you should tell them what it is

• You should encourage them that their actions matter

• You should encourage them that other people will do their part, too

Do Diligence Sounding Board

Water Babies

Water Babies

• It didn't really sum up the pollution problem or what we need to do to fix it. It was just very broad and barley touched on what to do.

• The weakest point is that the piece only tells you to "think" about the water pollution

• It does not tell us what we need to do in order to help.

Water BabiesWords Pictures Call To Action

6 8 1

Weed and Feed

Weed and Feed

• The image of the child's feet walking through grass as the narrator says the chemical can be absorbed through the skin

• The piece also tells you what you can do to help eliminate the problem (spot weed or pull weeds by hand), which is very helpful in getting people to do something.

• Don't use herbicide or fertilizer with harmful chemicals. Pull weeds by hand or use the products on spots that is necessary only.

Weed and FeedWords Pictures Call To Action

7 9 8

Do Diligence Sounding Board

Eric’s Main Points

• “Environmental Awareness” is somewhat of a myth

• If you want people to do something, you should tell them what it is

• You should encourage them that their actions matter

• You should encourage them that other people will do their part, too

Danielle Brigida

Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives

An effort by Healing Our Waters, Great Lakes Coalition

Engagement Pieces

My Thoughts• Action is the primary focus. • While there is some imagery it could be more

powerful.• Lots of text, with font that is hard to read.• Very informational but not very engaging• Good effort on Community- should plan to do

more around the yearly events it has.

Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives

The Bay vs. The BagA Project of Save the Bay

The Bay vs. The Bag Video

A Closer Look at the Page

Community Involvement

Thoughts…

• Great use of statistics and powerful imagery• Action was not focused upon in the video until

the very end• Clearly about awareness building• Has a clear action – halfway down the page• Easy and simple messaging

Dick Brooks

Clean Water Minnesota

4 2 4

Words Pictures Call to Action

If it’s in our streets…

5 5 4

Words Pictures Call to Action

Keep it out of storm drains

8 8 8

Words Pictures Call to Action

Strategy

The art of getting someone to do something

Story

People understand every message in terms of what they already know and believe.

GQNSFPVATLQN

GQNSFPVATLQN

GQNSFPVATLQN

Facts Are

Meaningless

Meaning always comes from the story

Facts illustrate the story

Travis Loop

http://www.denverwater.org/Conservation/TipsTools/

Mobilizing Political Support

Earth Day, 1995, Havre de Grace, Maryland

Your Turn!

• Imagine that president Obama is coming to your town for Earth Day 2010. You want to have a big crowd there!

• You must create something to turn people out: a poster, a postcard, an email, a video – you decide

• You have 25 minutes!• The speakers will judge what you come up

with on words, pictures, and call to action