Doing important work? Have important stories and information to share? Have knowledge, services, and resources that can benefit others? It’s time to let the world know! The Spin Project trains and strengthens non-profit social justice organizations, small and large, to communicate effectively for themselves. Offering most services free of charge, the Spin Project:
- Performs communication audits (assessing an organization’s current communications infrastructure as a first step in realizing their communications potential);
- Helps develop a comprehensive, proactive and professional approach to strategic communications;
- Offers skills building and leadership training to develop community leaders into savvy communicators;
- Provides communications support in the form of on-the-spot coaching in support of day-to-day media efforts or communications campaigns (i.e. email editing of press releases and op-eds, practicing pitch role plays via phone, and scheduled check-ins on communications plans);
- Supports the development of organizational communications infrastructure; and
- Provides campaign support.
Their website, www.spinproject.org also offers extensive training materials and resources. They have the 2007 SPIN Project Editorial Calendar, which is one of the basics of creating an effective Communications Plan. The 2007 Editorial Calendarprovides a list of events, holidays and other dates advocates can use as hooks for their pitches to reporters throughout the year.
The Spin Project also has online tutorials that provide simple, step-by-step guides to specific communications skills, from building a strategic communications plan to developing relationships with reporters. Their Links and References section offers helpful web sites and organizations that provide communications and media related services, commentary or information. Their Communications Consultant Directory provides listings for consultants across the country that are familiar with strategic communications in a nonprofit setting.
The Strategic Communications Plan Generator allows people to create a full communicaitons plan for their organization or campaign by filling in a simple web-based form. And, organizations can get feedback on their plan, free of charge, from a SPIN Project Strategist.
Earlier this year, the Spin Project, in partnership with the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships Program at the USC Annenberg School for Communication, presented Health Care in the Headlines: Public Relations for Health Advocates. As the media are key players in the local and national debate around health care policy, this one-day training workshop was designed to offer fundamental media relations skills to California’s health care advocates. This interactive workshop covered tactics and tools designed to help advocates refine their message to the media. It covered topics, including:
- Effective methods to convey your organization’s vision and values to the media.
- Practical role-play sessions and writing assignments.
- On-camera sound bite preparation and techniques.
- Informative handouts.
Additional trainings may be scheduled in the future.
The Spin Project website also has a Communications Jobs Board that lists open communications positions with nonprofit organizations across the country.
If you don’t have a media advocacy plan in place and/or are looking to more effectively bring your news and important messages to the media, visit the Spin Project today!
