Sally Wagoner's April Communication Committee Report:
As discussed in the Communications Meeting, I will:
1. Seek out the virtual and hard copy news outlets for the following counties - Newaygo, Oceana, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Eaton, and Kent. Other info needed from all will be publishing dates, submission dates, how to submit (ie email to a contact person there, or via online submission form).
2. Articles can be written as “Press Releases” to most news outlets, and submissions would be free. These press releases can be for all county party and district meetings, events, speakers, etc. They usually like a photo to go with the press release. Human photos are most received and viewed - so a photo of the guest speaker, a photo of officers or members, or a meeting in action. People rather than things or just graphics.
3. Ads of course cost $$. Each news outlet has their own cost per size of ad, etc.
4. Some news outlets have free “Community Calendars” where organizations can post meeting announcements. Not all do, such as Newaygo County’s Hi-Lites Shopper will not allow political organizations to post on the free Calendar. Committee Members will need to ask if their assigned counties’ news outlets have free community calendars like this.
I will write a general "community calendar" statement that can be submitted in all newspapers that have one. An example would be:
"The 2nd CD Democratic Party meets every second Saturday of "month on Zoom from 10:00am-12:00pm. If you would like to participate or join the local democratic party near you, please contact the Chair of the 2nd CD, Mary Minnick at Michigan2ndDemocrats@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!"
5. I will write a press release for the May 13 Ice Cream Social.
I will need news outlet info for the Counties from the other Communication Team Members by Friday April 20, to make sure there is time to submit it to at least one news outlet in each county on time. I will send the article to each Committee member to submit to their news outlets. They will tweak the article as directed to state that the specific county of the news outlet is in the 2nd District.
6. I will write a press release for the other quarterly meetings as well: August 12, November 11. I will send them to the other Communications Committee member to submit to their assigned County news outlets.
7. It would be great if at least once a month we could send a template of a Letter to the Editor to all of our County Parties that focuses on a pertinent and timely subject. Frequent LTE in our local news would increase awareness of the Dems & their parties in our rural counties.
Thank you,
Sally Wagoner
As discussed in the Communications Meeting, I will:
1. Seek out the virtual and hard copy news outlets for the following counties - Newaygo, Oceana, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Eaton, and Kent. Other info needed from all will be publishing dates, submission dates, how to submit (ie email to a contact person there, or via online submission form).
2. Articles can be written as “Press Releases” to most news outlets, and submissions would be free. These press releases can be for all county party and district meetings, events, speakers, etc. They usually like a photo to go with the press release. Human photos are most received and viewed - so a photo of the guest speaker, a photo of officers or members, or a meeting in action. People rather than things or just graphics.
3. Ads of course cost $$. Each news outlet has their own cost per size of ad, etc.
4. Some news outlets have free “Community Calendars” where organizations can post meeting announcements. Not all do, such as Newaygo County’s Hi-Lites Shopper will not allow political organizations to post on the free Calendar. Committee Members will need to ask if their assigned counties’ news outlets have free community calendars like this.
I will write a general "community calendar" statement that can be submitted in all newspapers that have one. An example would be:
"The 2nd CD Democratic Party meets every second Saturday of "month on Zoom from 10:00am-12:00pm. If you would like to participate or join the local democratic party near you, please contact the Chair of the 2nd CD, Mary Minnick at Michigan2ndDemocrats@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!"
5. I will write a press release for the May 13 Ice Cream Social.
I will need news outlet info for the Counties from the other Communication Team Members by Friday April 20, to make sure there is time to submit it to at least one news outlet in each county on time. I will send the article to each Committee member to submit to their news outlets. They will tweak the article as directed to state that the specific county of the news outlet is in the 2nd District.
6. I will write a press release for the other quarterly meetings as well: August 12, November 11. I will send them to the other Communications Committee member to submit to their assigned County news outlets.
7. It would be great if at least once a month we could send a template of a Letter to the Editor to all of our County Parties that focuses on a pertinent and timely subject. Frequent LTE in our local news would increase awareness of the Dems & their parties in our rural counties.
Thank you,
Sally Wagoner