Translate

Community Concerns

into

Messages & Recommendations

Gordon Mayer

312-676-2818

Turnout

Attendance at an event

Why We Communicate

Awareness

Usually traces back to money

Advocacy

Best to engage audience

What Are Our Goals?

Who Are

Our Audiences?

What Are Our Messages

Got milk? / ¿Toma leche?http://www.gotmilk.com/fun/toma_leche_2.html

‘Facts

Are

Meaningless’

Tell me a story

A B

C

Ameca Valley, Jalisco, Mexico

Storyteller Figure, A.D. 100/800, Art Institute of Chicago

Use reporter speak 1: story types

• I stories

• Poster child

• Problem to solution

• Then and now (it used to be… but now…)

• Cliches and common phrases

• Play off current events

• Rule of 3—3 facts, 3 numbers

Use reporter speak 2: story titles

• How We Began/Who Influenced

Us/Founders

• Obstacles Faced and Problems Solved

• Where I Got This Idea

• Values in Action

• Before we came on the scene/ After we

did our thing

• Accomplishments, Victories, Feeling good!

Use reporter speak 3: story themes

• Oh No!...disaster, tragedy, bad news

• Yes!...victory, agreement, improvement

• Wow!...extreme, unique event

• Hmmm!...thought-provoking, stimulating

• Rituals...opening days, funerals, birthdays

• News You Can Use...helpful information

Be the

media

To

Make

News,

You

Need

To Do

or

Create

Something

Man bites Dog, Peter Blapps, from flickr

1. Package

Pitching reporters

2. Practice

bit.ly/cmwtool

3. Pitch

“Do youhave aminutefor meto pitchyoua story?”

Prepping spokespeople

Understand that

you may have

been victimized at

some point in the

past,

but never play the

victim

--Shani Smith,

Spokesperson skills

• Bridging

• Flagging

• I don’t know the answer to that, but what I

do know is…

• Most/least, best/worst

• People who disagree with us would say

that…

Thanks!

Gordon Mayer

312-676-2818

‘My 6-Word Reason’

• “Why are you an

advocate for your cause

or organization?”

• What will you say–in 6

words?

• How will you explain–in 6

words – how your life

experience relates to

your cause?