Harnessing Media About the Energy Innovation Act

This training provides an overview of how to best engage your local media outlets, where to route national media interests, how to participate on social media, and where to find resources.

The importance of media

Media is critically important. Ongoing positive media coverage will show the initial sponsors that they did the right thing by introducing this legislation and build even more support in their districts. It will also make it safe for additional representatives to step up as cosponsors and it will also ensure that this legislation is seriously considered when it’s reintroduced in 2019. 

Handling media back home in district

• Please do reach out to local reporters with the local press release template. Please coordinate with Flannery if you’re in a sponsor district. Also know that we have two versions of the press release - use the appropriate one, sponsor or non-sponsor.
• Please do pitch the topic to your editorial board or ask to set up an editorial board meeting.
• Please do write Letters to the Editor.
• If you have questions or need guidance, you’re also welcome to call or email Flannery at any time.

How to handle national media

• Please do not reach out to national print or online media. CCL staff is handling national level media. These are outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, other big, familiar names in print and online media---you name it, we’re pitching it.
• Please do not reach out to national broadcast media. CCL is working with our own PR firm to pitch broadcast media. They’ll be working to get the sponsors placed on the national morning shows, national nightly news, etc, so you can trust that those outlets are being pitched as well.
• If you get contacted by anyone in national media, connect them with Flannery via an email forward or a call with information, and she'll take it from there.

Using social media to leverage print media

• Please do follow us.
• Please do make your own posts using the guidance and materials provided in our social media kit.
• http://cclusa.org/social-media-toolkit
• Please do follow the bill hashtag #PrinceOnPollution and engage positively, respectfully with people posting about the bill.
• Overall, don’t forget the other main actions: calling Congress, writing letters to the editor, etc. Do these first, and then social media can be the cherry on top!

Agenda and why media is important
(from beginning)

Media in district
(2:29)

National media
(5:07)

Using social media to leverage print media
(8:26)

Steve Valk, CCL Communications Director

Flannery Winchester, CCL Communications Coordinator

Download PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

To skip ahead to a specific section go to the time indicated in parenthesis.

Agenda and why media is important
(from beginning)

Media in district
(2:29)

National media
(5:07)

Using social media to leverage print media
(8:26)

Steve Valk, CCL Communications Director

Flannery Winchester, CCL Communications Coordinator

Click here to download or find the episode on CCL’s iTunes channel