Talking with Reporters
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Talking With Reporters
Talking with a reporter is your chance to help the public see why they should support us -- to help them see that we are not just fighting for ourselves but fighting for them.
Follow these three easy steps:
1. Plan how you will explain that we are standing up for the public interest.
Practice explaining it to a family member or friend who is not involved in our organization. Are we trying to improve service by improving staffing levels or reducing staff turnover? Are we standing up for good wages and health coverage that everyone in our community needs?
Start by using phrases like this to help you stay focused on the public interest:
We're standing up for the people we serve by…
What we want will help our clients because…
The whole community wins if we win because…
2. Keep repeating your public interest message no matter what you are asked.
A reporter might ask union members about wages and benefits -- "How much of a wage increase are you looking for?" or "I understand you are angry because your employer wants to cut your health benefits." But instead of talking just about that, you can change the subject. You can say…
Here's what really matters to
people like me and the people we serve…
3. Speak from personal experience.
Use personal stories to show how the people you serve or the broader community will benefit if we win.
I see every day how the people I serve will
benefit from what we are asking for.
The other day, we were so understaffed that…
Courtesy of TheWorkSite.org