CAMPAIGN CRASHING – 2008
Disclaimer: The National Wildlife Refuge Association does not endorse or support any
individual candidate or political party. Our purpose is to educate and inform.
How Do You Get People Running For Office To Talk About Your Favorite Issue… Refuges?
We now have a trimmed field of presidential hopefuls, all of whom want your vote. So what’s a refuge advocate to do with all the love? Whether Republican, Democratic or Independent, it’s time to be on the lookout for top candidates visiting your community, and to make yourself present and accounted for on behalf of refuges.
While the leading candidates are emphasizing character over issues at this stage of the game, don’t be fooled that they wouldn’t like to know those issues of concern to voters. Fortunately, since refuges are found in all states, and often proximate to population centers, we have a terrific opportunity to send a clear and consistent message to all candidates as they traverse the nation. The message is simple: National wildlife refuges are vitally important to wildlife AND people, and should have a candidate’s support.
Refuges help to ensure that our nation’s wildlife heritage remains intact for future generations, but also serve as economic engines in communities, and provide outstanding opportunities for recreation and environmental education. And while presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are talking about transcending partisanship, refuges really do! Across the country, refuge professionals, Friends and other conservation interests of diverse ideological persuasions are advocating for increased Refuge System budgets. But unless we make ourselves seen and heard at campaign events and through correspondence, candidates will never get the message.
Campaign Engagement Tips
The following tips are to help you get on the radar screen of each candidate and campaign. These can be used for Presidential candidates, Congressional candidates and even local candidates. You can do them as an individual or with members of your Friends group. The only rule that you must remember at all times is that as a 501(c)(3) your Friends group may never endorse or support any political party or candidate – you may only educate and inform.
I. Decide Your Goals
II. Establish a (Noticeable) Physical Presence
III. Ask a Question - Frame it with Facts
IV. Be Prepared – Frame Your Question
V. Provide Written Materials and Follow-up Contact Info.
VI. Engage the Media
VII. As a Group
VIII. RECAP – What to Bring With You to a Campaign Event
IX. What If Your Question Isn’t Asked or Your Group Isn’t Noticed?
Decide Your Goals
This could include any or all of the following, or more:
Get the candidate to make an “on the record” statement about your issue – Urge the candidate to state that he or she supports our nation’s wildlife heritage, specifically the National Wildlife Refuge System
Get posters, t-shirts, or other “message media” into pictures, including pictures with the candidates
Get other attendees to sign petitions, sign-on letters, etc., and/or deliver such petitions to the candidate publicly
Get interviewed by the press, either for print, radio, or video media
Deliver information about your issue to the candidate, the press, and attendees
Once you decide what you’re trying to accomplish, tailor your activities accordingly. And remember, it’s just as easy for the press to cast your issue in a negative light as in a positive one. Always be respectful to the candidate, the campaign staff, the press, and other attendees.
(return
to table of contents)
Establish a (Noticeable) Physical Presence
In some respects, it’s all about numbers, but it’s also about visibility. If you have one person at a huge event, you’re unlikely to accomplish a lot – you might want to stick to smaller events such as town hall meetings. If you have ten people, however, even at a huge event, you can establish a presence and get covered by the press and noticed by the campaign. Here are some suggestions to get noticed:
“Go as a Group” Ten people dispersed among the crowd are not noticeable. Ten people with identical, bright T-shirts or posters, or both, with a clever, short phrase on them, situated in front of a well-framed backdrop, could be irresistible to press photographers, especially if the candidate is in the shot.
“Think Strategically” The candidate has to go into and out of the event; determine the candidate’s route and do your best to get right in the middle of it to get the best visual that you can.
“The Pause” Hand something to the candidate if you can; it forces them to pause and could be an opportunity for a question or a photo.
“Frame a photo for the media” Print photographers and especially television cameramen are always thinking visually and looking for an interesting shot. They care far more about the visual than about the message.
“Utilize your Resources” Take your own pictures so you can submit them along with a press release after the event is over.
(return
to table of contents)
Ask a Question - Frame it with Facts
|
The Friends of Sherburne NWR in Minnesota discuss refuge needs with former Representative Mark Kennedy (R-MN).
|
At a town hall meeting, a debate, or any campaign event that includes Q&A, you have the perfect opportunity to get the candidate on record on your issue, or at least to make your issue known to the candidate, the press, and the attendees.
There are three ways questions generally get asked and answered publicly during an event. Find out which is the format and think strategically.
1. Questions submitted ahead of time: Write your question out on an index card and make copies ahead of time. Give one to a staff member of the candidate, one to as many press people as you can, and one to anyone else who might possibly have a say in which questions get asked.
2. Questions asked when the candidate or moderator randomly calls on people in the crowd: This process is seldom random -- talk to staff, give them a copy of your question, and indicate that this is a great chance for their candidate to speak to an issue that lots of people care about. Let them know that you’ll be asking the question, and remind them where you are and what you look like (e.g., I’ll be asking this question and I’m wearing a red shirt and I’ll be sitting on the left side right down by the front). You can say the same thing to a moderator or anyone who might have influence over who gets to ask a question.
3. Questions asked by crowd members waiting in line at a microphone: Position yourself so you can be first in line.
(return
to table of contents)
Be Prepared – Frame Your Question:
Frame Your Question – Be Brief: Your question should never be more than 1 minute and preferably less.
Frame Your Question – Identify Yourself: What group do you represent – how many members; are you a teacher, business leader, community leader, why you care
Frame Your Question – The Wording: Make your question relevant to the audience; ensure it is something they care about as well, even if they don’t know what a national wildlife refuge is. Examples include clean water, connecting children with the outdoors, economic stimulation of local economies…
Frame Your Question – Literally: Have the others with you (with T-shirts or posters) positioned around you when you ask it -- people who ask questions are also often photographed or filmed.
Frame Your Question – Background: Many people (including perhaps a candidate) are unfamiliar with the National Wildlife Refuge System. Provide a full sentence of lead-up, including the facts that you want publicized. For example, “Given that the National Wildlife Refuge System budgets have been slashed over the last 5 years, that critically endangered species are at risk, and that the public overwhelmingly supports national wildlife refuges, will you commit right now to increasing refuge budgets by 50 percent?” That’s just an example, but be bold in your request – that gives the candidate wiggle room to make a public statement and still land solidly on your side.
THANK THE CANDIDATE and wait for an answer.
NOTE: If possible, ask someone to take notes for you as the candidate answers your question.
(return
to table of contents)
Provide Written Materials and Follow-up Contact Info.
One Page Fact Sheet: This should be no more than one page and should include your Friends Group logo, contact information, quick facts about your refuge and the NWRS, and anything else that supports your argument. Hand it out to all press people, the campaign staff, and audience members ahead of time – a vital part of establishing a presence at the event. When the event is over there won’t be time to hand it out.
(return
to table of contents)
Engage the Media
The press corps can be your best friend if you treat them well. That means doing as much of their job for them as you can, and making their job as easy as possible. Their job is to capture pithy, useable quotes and to capture interesting visuals, either for still photos or video.
Whether you got the candidate on the record or not, reporters will be interested in talking to you after the event if your group established a presence. What you say is newsworthy, because your people with their shirts or posters are in their pictures. If the candidate mentioned your issue, even better.
(return
to table of contents)
As A Group
|
The Friends of Tennessee NWRs talk with U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) about the complex needs of their refuge. |
Establish a Spokesperson: Direct the people in your group to refer reporters to the spokesperson. When the spokesperson is being interviewed, the other people should be in the background of the shot, or be grouped very closely around the speaker.
The Spokesperson: Decide on three talking points, memorize them if possible and have catchy phrases about each (five words or less). During an interview, answer with your three talking points. Make at least one of the talking points a touching personal story, as brief as possible, about why you are out there using your personal time to bring this issue to the forefront. NOTE: Don’t worry about answering the reporter’s question exactly – say EXACTLY what you came to say and nothing else. Reporters will often remain silent hoping you will say something you shouldn’t.
(return
to table of contents)
RECAP – What to Bring With You to a Campaign Event:
1. Enthusiasm for your refuge, wildlife and your community
2. Ten others from your Friends group wearing similar brightly colored T-shirts or other eye-catching clothing
3. Simple, colorful signs with a short, catchy slogan
4. Question written on index cards – at least 10 – to hand out
5. One page Fact Sheet - at least 20-100, depending on the size of the event
6. Three Talking Points with short quotes for each – each no more than 5 words
(return
to table of contents)
What If Your Question Isn’t Asked or Your Group Isn’t Noticed?
Don’t despair, you had fun and likely met some interesting people – some of who may want to join your Friends group! There are several things you can do as a follow up to engage the Campaign or the media.
Utilize Your Photos
If you had someone in your group taking photographs, be sure to include them with a press release to local media outlets. Invite reporters at the campaign event to visit your refuge for a special VIP tour.
Write The Campaign
Send a follow up note to the nearest campaign office explaining that your group had attended a meeting and your question was not addressed. Include your one page Fact Sheet. Ask the campaign to get back to you with an answer to your question.
Submit a Letter To The Editor
Letters to the Editor are a fast and easy way to get your message across and campaigns are constantly looking to determine issues important to local citizens. Through the letter, express that you hope this candidate (and all others) will address your issue in the future.
(return
to table of contents)
Have fun and be sure to check back with NWRA staff if you or your Friends
group attends a campaign event!
(202)333-9075
Disclaimer: The National Wildlife Refuge Association does not endorse or support any
individual candidate or political party. Our purpose is to educate and inform. |
