Comments on: Media Strategy, by David Harvey http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/ Advocating for public policies that support adult literacy Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:47:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Harvey http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-57 David Harvey Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:40:22 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-57 I think we have to move away from the message that learning to read is a basic human right, not a privilege. It’s not that the message is bad or that it’s incorrect, it’s just that it’s not resonating with lawmakers and the general public. We have to tie the adult literacy message to something that is important right now – and that’s jobs, the economy, and health care. So let’s frame our messages in the context of employment and health care reform. As the economy turns around and people begin to go back to work, there’s going to be a large group of people who are going to remain unemployed – that group consists of native English speakers who have poor reading, writing, math, and computer skills and individuals who have limited English proficiency. If we don’t help these individuals acquire stronger literacy and English skills, they will not be able to find jobs and become economically self-sufficient. If we want to reduce dependence on public assistance, we have to make it possible for people to access the training they need to find jobs – that means more adult literacy programs and more financial resources for these programs. That’s one way to reframe. As for health care – many of the uninsured are individuals living in poverty – people who can’t find jobs or who don’t have the skills to find jobs that either offer insurance benefits or offer wages that make it possible for people to purchase insurance. Again, helping individuals gain literacy and English skills to find jobs that either pay a living wage and/or include insurance coverage is one way to address this issue. Another way to frame this message is what it costs us in health care when adults can’t read well. There is research that shows that adults with low literacy skills are less healthy than more literate adults – they are more likely to seek health care when their illness is at an advanced stage and therefore, more costly to treat. Frame the message this way – a key component in solving this country’s health care issue is to prevent serious illness – and that means giving adults the literacy skills they need to stay healthy and to raise healthy children. I think we have to move away from the message that learning to read is a basic human right, not a privilege. It’s not that the message is bad or that it’s incorrect, it’s just that it’s not resonating with lawmakers and the general public. We have to tie the adult literacy message to something that is important right now – and that’s jobs, the economy, and health care. So let’s frame our messages in the context of employment and health care reform. As the economy turns around and people begin to go back to work, there’s going to be a large group of people who are going to remain unemployed – that group consists of native English speakers who have poor reading, writing, math, and computer skills and individuals who have limited English proficiency. If we don’t help these individuals acquire stronger literacy and English skills, they will not be able to find jobs and become economically self-sufficient. If we want to reduce dependence on public assistance, we have to make it possible for people to access the training they need to find jobs – that means more adult literacy programs and more financial resources for these programs. That’s one way to reframe.

As for health care – many of the uninsured are individuals living in poverty – people who can’t find jobs or who don’t have the skills to find jobs that either offer insurance benefits or offer wages that make it possible for people to purchase insurance. Again, helping individuals gain literacy and English skills to find jobs that either pay a living wage and/or include insurance coverage is one way to address this issue. Another way to frame this message is what it costs us in health care when adults can’t read well. There is research that shows that adults with low literacy skills are less healthy than more literate adults – they are more likely to seek health care when their illness is at an advanced stage and therefore, more costly to treat. Frame the message this way – a key component in solving this country’s health care issue is to prevent serious illness – and that means giving adults the literacy skills they need to stay healthy and to raise healthy children.

]]> By: David Harvey http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-56 David Harvey Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:48:54 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-56 That’s a great idea, Heidi and a perfect example of a “soft sell.” Just remember to be persistent in sending in the announcements and don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a response right away. There’s lots of competition out there for media time and attention! And I’m glad you found the article helpful, Heidi! That’s a great idea, Heidi and a perfect example of a “soft sell.” Just remember to be persistent in sending in the announcements and don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a response right away. There’s lots of competition out there for media time and attention! And I’m glad you found the article helpful, Heidi!

]]> By: David Harvey http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-55 David Harvey Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:48:21 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-55 Lack of resources – either the staff to do the work or the money to hire public relations help – is something I hear quite often from ProLiteracy members. You’re right, Marsha – getting PR professionals to serve on your board is one strategy. Some others is to check with a local college to see if there is an internship program – students in public relations, marketing, even creative writing programs are always looking for the opportunity to add some professional experience to their resumes. Just make sure you have a plan for what you would like the student to do – develop a communications strategy, for example, draft a series of news releases, develop content for your Web site, or develop a brochure or series of fact sheets that the program can use in its communications efforts. If there isn’t a college, check with the local high schools. Many of them now have journalism or public relations courses; a program may even have an entire class work on its communications program for a class project. Lack of resources – either the staff to do the work or the money to hire public relations help – is something I hear quite often from ProLiteracy members. You’re right, Marsha – getting PR professionals to serve on your board is one strategy. Some others is to check with a local college to see if there is an internship program – students in public relations, marketing, even creative writing programs are always looking for the opportunity to add some professional experience to their resumes. Just make sure you have a plan for what you would like the student to do – develop a communications strategy, for example, draft a series of news releases, develop content for your Web site, or develop a brochure or series of fact sheets that the program can use in its communications efforts. If there isn’t a college, check with the local high schools. Many of them now have journalism or public relations courses; a program may even have an entire class work on its communications program for a class project.

]]> By: Heidi Silver-Pacuilla http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Heidi Silver-Pacuilla Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:24:02 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-26 Marsha, you touched on the issue of staff w experience and time to do public relations. I was going to comment on an ongoing strategy that feels less like an "ask" every time and doesn't require a formal press release. Adult education and family literacy programs have all kinds of celebrations and events - from pre-K to GED graduations; International night, citizenship celebrations - send announcements to the local papers in advance of these events and invite them to cover these positive stories. You can build awareness and pave the way to a stronger relationship w a paper, if not a particular writer, by involving them in the ongoing operations and celebrations of the program. They can then be more responsive and informed to pick up on your advocacy "asks" when it's really needed. Great article w lots of ideas, David. Thanks - Heidi Silver-Pacuilla Marsha, you touched on the issue of staff w experience and time to do public relations. I was going to comment on an ongoing strategy that feels less like an “ask” every time and doesn’t require a formal press release. Adult education and family literacy programs have all kinds of celebrations and events – from pre-K to GED graduations; International night, citizenship celebrations – send announcements to the local papers in advance of these events and invite them to cover these positive stories. You can build awareness and pave the way to a stronger relationship w a paper, if not a particular writer, by involving them in the ongoing operations and celebrations of the program. They can then be more responsive and informed to pick up on your advocacy “asks” when it’s really needed.

Great article w lots of ideas, David. Thanks -

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

]]> By: mltait http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-25 mltait Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:34:49 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-25 Thank you, David. This posting is full of great ideas and strategies. It occurs to me that sometimes local programs don't have the resources to support public relations staff -- and program managers get busy with other priorities. One strategy I have heard Executive Directors use to offset this problem and still get the word out is to recruit local public relations professionals to serve on their Boards of Directors. What other strategies have others used to leverage their public relations dollars? Thank you, David. This posting is full of great ideas and strategies. It occurs to me that sometimes local programs don’t have the resources to support public relations staff — and program managers get busy with other priorities. One strategy I have heard Executive Directors use to offset this problem and still get the word out is to recruit local public relations professionals to serve on their Boards of Directors. What other strategies have others used to leverage their public relations dollars?

]]> By: Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2009/10/media_strategy_dch/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Jackie Taylor Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:32:58 +0000 http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=189#comment-21 Hi David and All, Welcome to this week’s discussion on Cultivating Media Relations! Please post your questions and comments for David Harvey here this week. David, thank you for joining us. I have two questions for you. I enjoyed listening to your interview with the Milwaukee Public Radio. During the interview, you discussed the need for the field to do at least two things to change the way we raise the visibility of adult literacy issues with the public and policymakers, because adult literacy is not on the national radar screen, and it needs to be. 1) Re-messaging the Adult Literacy Issue You shared that ProLiteracy is trying to re-message the adult literacy issue to help policymakers understand “the silent crisis” facing our nation and its interrelationship to the poor economy. What direction should we be headed in reframing our message? For example, what message(s) do you suggest we reframe (what may not be working as well), or what message(s) could or should we be using to frame the issue? 2) Fighting Stigmas in Adult Literacy Second, you noted that our field should create anti-stigma public relations campaigns so that adults feel like they can come forward, admit they need help, and by doing this, raise the visibility of the issue to policymakers. You gave examples from the AIDS and cancer awareness campaign efforts, and mentioned ProLiteracy’s interest in instigating such a campaign for adult literacy. What would be involved in creating such a campaign? Please say more about your vision for that. Thanks so much ~ Jackie Taylor Hi David and All,

Welcome to this week’s discussion on Cultivating Media Relations! Please post your questions and comments for David Harvey here this week.

David, thank you for joining us. I have two questions for you. I enjoyed listening to your interview with the Milwaukee Public Radio. During the interview, you discussed the need for the field to do at least two things to change the way we raise the visibility of adult literacy issues with the public and policymakers, because adult literacy is not on the national radar screen, and it needs to be.

1) Re-messaging the Adult Literacy Issue

You shared that ProLiteracy is trying to re-message the adult literacy issue to help policymakers understand “the silent crisis” facing our nation and its interrelationship to the poor economy.

What direction should we be headed in reframing our message? For example, what message(s) do you suggest we reframe (what may not be working as well), or what message(s) could or should we be using to frame the issue?

2) Fighting Stigmas in Adult Literacy

Second, you noted that our field should create anti-stigma public relations campaigns so that adults feel like they can come forward, admit they need help, and by doing this, raise the visibility of the issue to policymakers. You gave examples from the AIDS and cancer awareness campaign efforts, and mentioned ProLiteracy’s interest in instigating such a campaign for adult literacy. What would be involved in creating such a campaign? Please say more about your vision for that.

Thanks so much ~

Jackie Taylor

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