Transition Scotland Support Starter Pack Sheet 3
How to publicise your activities
A RECIPE FOR A FLYING START! TAKE a core group of committed people, a generous scoosh of energy and lashings of enthusiasm. Add public spaces like village halls and community buildings Pepper a varied range of films and speakers into the mix over several months Invite everyone you know and ask them to invite everyone they know Blend well and see what happens! OK, it’s not too precise but, true to form, Transition uses fresh, seasonal ingredients and adapts to local circumstances. What’s universal is the fact that to get people on board they need to know and understand what you’re doing and why.
Publicising your activities Posters, press releases, websites, e-mails and word of mouth are among the most effective methods of letting people know what you’re doing. But much creative effort can be wasted by weak planning and organisation when it comes to getting your communications out there. Good organisers are gold dust; cultivate and develop these skills and they’ll serve your group well. Allocate tasks, and work out things like who is putting posters up where, who creates and maintains lists of contacts, who is booking venues and organising refreshments.
WHO, WHERE, WHY, WHAT and WHEN? The five w’s lie at the heart of all communications. Whatever you’re doing, when it comes to communicating with the outside world - and every bit as crucially, with each other - make sure you’ve answered these questions. ‘How’ is another useful one to add to the mix If people in your community don’t get what you’re doing and why, your fledgeling group will flounder. Most Transition initiatives begin with a programme of events to raise awareness of peak oil and
climate change and the impacts these problems are likely to have on the community. These have maximum effect when organisers allow space and time for people to take in material, which is often hardhitting, and to discuss the issues and forge links with others. A range of films can be used during a group’s awareness raising programme - the final sheet of this series gives a list of suggested resources, contacts and further suggestions.
News releases An effective news release should clearly cover the five w’s and include quotes from someone in the group. The less editing has to be done at the media end the better. Making journalists’ busy lives easier will make for good relations. A news release is not just for the media - send it to any public figures you think might be interested; politicians, council staff, other organisations, community councils and local groups. E-mail it round your group and ask people to forward it on to all their own friends and contacts. Viral e-mailing has been proven to be one of the most effective ways of getting people out to events. Be on the ball; find out the deadline of your local paper and get stories in early. And think pictures - using strong positive images will reap great benefits for your group.
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