STEP ONE: CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
It is important to remember that your elected officials represent you and make decisions based on the opinions of the people that put them in office - as well as those that have the power to vote them out. What you think matters, particularly when it comes to issues that directly relate to the health and well-being of you, your community, and your family. One of the best ways to get your point across is to make an appointment to meet with your state legislator in the district (hometown) office and meet face to face.
CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
1) Call for an appointment: Let whomever you talk to know that you
live in the district, and what you want to talk about.
2) Make the connections: Let the scheduler know if you are a member
of a community group that is concerned about the issue,
have been supportive and helpful in electing the legislator,
or have other relationships that would help in creating your clout.
3) Prepare for your visit: think about what you want the legislator to know
and, more specifically, what you want to see happen.
Read House Bill 355!
4) Join forces: Visit your legislator with a group of community members
who represent different interests. For example, a doctor, biotechnology
company owner, person who is paralyzed due to spinal cord injury,
clergy member, etc. canbring various perspectives to the meeting.
5) Use local and personal examples: Your state legislator is interested in what
is happening in the community, so use local examples of the problem whenever
possible. Talk about individuals and specific applications of stem cell research.
6) Follow-up: After the visit, follow-up with the legislator by sending
a thank you letter, reiterating what you have requested as well as
providing additional information and materials.
CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
STEP TWO: CONTACT THE MEDIA
Using your local newspapers and other media is a great way to get the word out.
Here are some ways to work with the press on your issue.
Build a relationship with your local reporters
Submit a Letter-to-the-Editor
Guide to Writing a Letter-to-the-Editor
The letters that have the best chance of being published by
your newspaper are short, focused, and to the point.
· Make sure that you include your full name, address, day and evening phone numbers,
and your e-mail address at the top of the letter. Most newspapers
will contact the letter writer to confirm authenticity.
· Write short sentences and limit your letter to no more than two or three paragraphs.
· Don't send copies of your letter to a several papers at once. Make it an original to the publication where you really want it published and wait a few days before submitting your letter somewhere else.
Submit an Op-Ed
Guide to Writing an Op-ed
An op-ed is a guest opinion column found in the editorial section of your newspaper.
You can use it as a tool to get your message out in the local media by writing one yourself or asking
someone in your community to do so (such as a parent of a child whose life would be saved or improved through stem cell research. Make sure to target community newspapers
in addition to state and national media outlets.
· Check your newspaper’s editorial page to find out how they accept submissions (via fax, e-mail, etc.).
· Include your phone number, address, e-mail address, and a brief bio with your submission (when printed in the paper, op-eds usually have a short blurb about the author(s) at the end of the piece).
· Once you’ve sent the piece in, be sure to follow up with the editors after a few days.
Here are some other tips for your op-ed:
· Make it newsworthy by tying it to something specific. Examples of news hooks might include a new study on stem cell research or a local instance of a community member who has experienced a recent health crisis that would benefit from stem cell research. · When possible, personalize your piece with an experience or anecdote.
· Be brief and to the point. Op-eds are usually 800 words or less, and editors won’t be happy about having to make your piece fit.
· Appeal to the average reader. Don’t use technical language or jargon.
· Start and end with a bang. Draw the reader in with your first paragraph. Sum up your piece in the last paragraph with a strong message and call to action.
· If possible, recruit others to add to your by-line. Sometimes it helps to have an “expert” on the issue in order to get published. Or it might improve your chances to simply add other concerned members of the community to the by-line.
Build a relationship with your local journalists and newspaper editors
· Call a local reporter who covers related issues in your community,
such as science or health, and start the education process.
· Tell the reporter(s) about the importance of stem cell
research and the need for a state legislative solution.
· Call the reporter frequently with your campaign updates,
and be sure to give your number/email to the reporter.
· Also try to cultivate relationships with members of the newspaper’s
editorial board who might be willing to write an editorial on the issue.
All of the relationship building work that you do will help when
you need the attention and interest of the press.
