Getting the message out

Carol from Test Valley Friends of the Earth used skills gained at the January Regional Gathering to get local media coverage to support the group's Get Serious About CO2 campaign.

The council advised Carol to give a presentation to councillors at the local forum, which Carol booked four months ahead. An existing powerpoint presentation from the Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator helped explain the aims of the campaign.

With confidence from the media skills workshop, Carol visited the local newspaper offices a week beforehand to give them an information sheet on the campaign and met and briefed the journalist who would be attending the meeting.  

The presentation went down well and with time set aside for questions, councillors came away with a good understanding of the campaign. Questions from the public were followed up with an email to the Chair requesting a written answer for the next meeting.

There's still work to be done, but the presentation and local media coverage have given the group a boost and raised awareness and support for the campaign locally. Crucially it has also helped build relations with the councilors.

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