Overview of tools and resources

• Key Messages and Talking Points: Key messages and talking points have been developed to ensure the delivery of consistent messages. Use these messages in your communications efforts, including interviews, speeches, and informal conversations as well as print and online communications materials about the campaign.

• Q & A’s: Guided by the key messages and talking points, these sample questions and answers have been provided to help prepare you for questions about the campaign from fellow students, the media and general public.

• Getting Started: While you can – and should – undertake a broad range of activities throughout this campaign, we have highlighted “launch” activities that can be coordinated during Raise Your Voice – A Week of Action. This section provides guidance on a variety of topics, including how to coordinate each event, how to build or strengthen local coalitions, how to promote an event to the media, etc.

• Reaching Out to the Media: Establishing and maintaining relationships with the media is essential to promoting positive coverage of the Raise Your Voice campaign. This section features suggestions on how to build relations with the news media and an overview of various types of media outlets. It also includes recommendations for giving interviews and earning favorable coverage.

• Communicating with Policymakers: Ensuring that key policymakers are familiar with the work of the campaign is critical. This section provides recommendations on targeted outreach to policymakers to cultivate their vocal support for the campaign.

• Sample Materials: Resources are provided in this section for your use in implementing the campaign on campus and in the community. Sample materials include flyers, scripts for radio public service announcements for college and local radio stations, e-mail copy for campus wide announcements about the campaign, etc.