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Strategic Communications Resources

At the June 30 PSI community-wide meeting, ReThink Media presented a workshop on "Strategic Communications: How to Identify Media Opportunities, Get Your Messages Heard, and Advance Your Policy Objectives."  The workshop was designed to assist PSI community members in developing their unique election year media strategy.  Please check out the following resources provided by ReThink Media:

1.  Strategic Communications Elections Resource Packet - including various election-year media opportunities and tactics, the most influential political blogs, and progressive media outlets

2.  Strategic Communications Worksheet - get a jump start on your media strategy

3.  ReThink Media's top picks for additional strategic communications resources and planning tools:

ReThink Media

Finallogo ReThink Media provides state-of-the-art media tools, communications strategies, and training to organizations and experts working for a safer and more peaceful world.  ReThink Media was generated from the needs identified by the peace and security community in the 2006 PSI Needs Assessment Survey.  It is the first strategic media initiative focused exclusively on strengthening the capacity and core communications competencies of leaders, activists, and experts working on a progressive approach to foreign policy.

Discussion Points for Getting Your Message Out in the Media

Bill Hartung, Director of the Arms and Security Initiative and a frequent commentator on radio shows, blogs, and other media outlets, has shared with us his "Discussion Points for Getting Your Message Out in the Media." This resource is meant to be a quick overview of media tactics and techniques for activists.  Please click here  to download.

Scenario Planning

One of the workshops offered at the December 2007 PSI community-wide meeting was focused on scenario planing and crisis management.  At this workshop, Mark Sommer (The Mainstream Media Project) focused on how advocates and experts can do a better job of anticipating and responding to events that fundamentally shift politics and perceptions around foriegn policy and security issues.  Please click here for his notes from the workshop.  Click here to download tips on how to conduct a successful broadcast interview.

Scenario Planning: Media Contingency Planning Checklist

One of the workshops offered at the December 2007 PSI community-wide meeting was focused on scenario planing and crisis management.  At this workshop, ReThink Media provided the following "Contingency Planning for the Media" checklist as a resource to organizations planning an effective rapid response strategy.

Click here to assess this useful resource.

MEDIA RESOURCES

At the December 5, 2005  community-wide Peace and Security Initiative (PSI) meeting, media access and coordinated media strategies were identified as priority capacity needs.  The Ploughshares Fund provided a grant to Lynn Fahselt to identify free and inexpensive resources to address these needs.

Click below to access the results of her work:

Media and Communications Resources for the Peace and Security Community

Within this resource, you will find links to:

  • Up-to-date media contact list for the top 100 US newspapers (p. 9)
  • FREE Strategic Communications Plan Generator with FREE feedback from a communications strategist (p. 11)
  • A communications toolkit addressing strategic marketing, advertising, branding, media relations, etc. (p. 17)
  • FREE tools to evaluate a communications campaign in progress or already completed (p. 19)
  • A how-to guide on raising money with e-mail (p. 23)
  • Training, technological best practices, free customized software and online infrastructure to link organizations, individuals and resources (p. 25)
  • Tips for placing op-eds and letters to the editor with direct e-mail links (p. 28)
  • 10 tips to get more media coverage of reports and studies (p. 28)
  • Lists of News Services to create an echo effect for a news story (p. 29)
  • Resources for better messaging, writing and positioning (p. 32)
  • FREE media monitoring services (p. 34)
  • FREE media databases and news contact resources (p. 36)
  • Practical, how-to advice to jumpstart your blogging program (p. 40)
  • Using the Internet for effective grassroots advocacy (p. 41)
  • Training and online workshops (p. 49)
  • Research tools to find funding opportunities (p. 52)

. . . and many, many other resources!

Please ensure the following people within your organization are aware of and use this resource:

  • Executive Directors
  • Communications/Media staff
  • IT and Web staff
  • Development staff
  • Online and offline campaign staff
  • Research and analysis staff

The PSI's Implementation Team hopes that you find this a valuable and useful resource.  If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Fahselt (contact info on the first page of the resource).