Establishing a
Climate Action Group
Toolkit
Working with the Media As a Climate Action Group or anyone who wants to put climate change on the agenda, working with the media is an important part of reaching the community. If handled well, the media can be an effective way to spread your message, or let people know about upcoming events. If not, working with the media can end up very time‐consuming, with little result. Once your group is established you may find that local media knows you as the people to go to for comments on climate change and climate change policy.
Writing a letter to the editor Letters to the editor are an effective and simple way to show that the community is concerned about climate change. You can write a letter in response to a recent event, announcement or story, or simply because it is an issue you’re concerned about. Keep your letter short, sharp and witty and it will have a much better chance of getting published. State and National media are often the target of letter writers, and reach a larger audience, but local media can be very influential and reflects the concerns of local residents so don’t forget to send letters to local papers too. Think about who reads the paper, and what is likely to influence them. If you are commenting on a topical issue or story, try to get your letter off the same day as the story is first published, or first thing the next morning. You’re letters must be timely to be relevant for publication. Below are a few contacts for State and National media in Victoria. Note down the contact details from your local media and have them ready by the computer for when you next hear that climate change story you want to comment on. The Age: Email to letters@theage.com.au Herald Sun: Use the form online at www.news.com.au/heraldsun/opinion The Australian: Email to letters@theaustralian.com.au The Weekly Times: Use the form online at www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/forms/letter‐to‐the‐ editor.html Leader Newspapers: Go to http://leader‐news.whereilive.com.au/ to find your local paper’s details. Leader newspapers online now have a section that allows you to write the news! You no longer have to wait for the paper to report your story. Write your own news online, and help set the community agenda. The more stories about climate change entered, the more papers will know that this is one of the community’s biggest concerns. Go to http://leader‐news.whereilive.com.au/your‐ news/new/
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Working with the Media BREAZE and Environment Victoria, Establishing a Climate Action Group Toolkit
Call Talkback Radio Talkack radio reaches a huge audience so it’s a great medium to use to spread your message on the need for action on climate change. Political parties even monitor the issues that are raised on talkback to keep up with what issues are of greatest concern to the community. Remember, you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion. Have the radio stations number ready so that you can call in anytime you hear a story you want to comment on, or you want to talk about the need for climate action. Pay attention to what the presenter or host likes and dislikes. Have your key point prepared in your mind, but try not to read from a script – talk back is about having an informal conversation with the public. When you call, you will first speak to a producer who will want to know your name, suburb and what you want to talk about. You will either be placed on hold until they put you through, or they might offer to call you back if there is a slot. When you are in the queue, turn your radio off. You will be able to hear the conversation through the phone, but your radio will create feedback when you are on air. When you are on air, remember that you will only about 30 seconds to make your point. Talk clearly and concisely, and get to the point. Be polite. If the presenter or host is rude or trying to wind you up, don’t take the bait. Remain calm, and politely tell them your concerns. Some Victorian radio stations that take talkback are listed below. Check local radio stations for local numbers, or local ABC contacts. 3AW – 03 9690 0693 (frequency 693) – Outside Melbourne the line is 131332. The Victorian Government takes comments on 3AW particularly seriously as they recognise this station as being representative of the Victorian community. 774 ABC – 1300 222774 (frequency 774) – You can also send an SMS to 19 774 774. ACB local radio – go to www.abc.net.au/local/ to find your local ABC radio station and contact details
Blogs and social networking media Online blogs and social networking media are a great way to spread information and get people involved in your campaigns.
Blogs According to wikipedia, a blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular commentaries, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or videos. Many blogs will publish comments on a particular subject, others are personal blogs that function more as online diaries. While you might want to host your own blog on behalf of your group, the best thing about blogs, or ‘blogging’ from a Climate Action Group point of view is that you can comment on them. A number of online newspapers now have blogs attached to their websites where readers can comment on the Working with the Media 3 BREAZE and Environment Victoria, Establishing a Climate Action Group Toolkit
bloggers original article. Online papers also often have space for readers to comment at the end of articles. Many of these papers are able to judge as to which articles are the most popular (and therefore the most important to keep publishing), but the number of comments or ‘blogs’ in response. All sorts of groups and organisations including environmental groups host blogs on their websites. If the blog receives lots of comments, groups are able to show that they are engaging the community. Try to make sure that if you are reading newspapers online or visiting the websites of environmental groups that you blog your comments on articles and features to show that the community is engaged on climate action.
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and social networking Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are popular forms of social networking that allows people online to set up a profile and contact their ‘friends’ or ‘followers’. Go to www.facebook.com , www.twitter.com , or www.myspace.com for more information about each of these sites. This can be particularly useful for campaigning by allowing you to spread information through your online networks, that can then be spread further by people connected to you. If your CAG wants to set up a Facebook group or event etc, it’s best to allocate the job of setting it up to one person who has the online skills and interest to keep it up‐to‐date.
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