1. Be Brief and Attention Getting – Remember that most reporters are looking looking mainly for a sound bite or great quote. This being the case, try your best to give them an informative one!
2. Don’t Use Worn out Rhetoric – Be Specific – Don’t settle into broad generalizations of issues, but rather be as specific as possible to the issue you are addressing. Don’t say: Congress needs to do more about climate change. Do say: The (Your faith community name here)is calling on Congress to support the (name of specific bill) bill for renewable energy.
3. Let Them Know Who You Represent, and Connect Locally – Even if you are representing a national organization, make sure you bring it back to the local community. Note the specific church, or denomination, or local group you are working with as well.
4. Stay on Message, and Repeat, Repeat, Repeat – Don’t let yourself get off topic, but rather keep repeating what it is you are trying to get across to the press
5. Be Prepared, and Practice – Have all your information ready to go, and make sure this isn’t the first time you have said what you are planning to say. Give it a few practice runs, so that it is almost second nature.
6. Use Statistics, but Make it Personal – State the statistics on the issue, but also be sure to make it as personal as possible. Putting faces on the issue is key, and gets peoples attention just as much, if not more, than a good statistic.
7. Use Strong Language, and Stay Upbeat
The Poverty Initiative
is part of the Justice and Advocacy Commission of the