[NLA] How to Work Effectively with the Media

[David Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

In our recent campaign to restore Massachusetts public adult education
and literacy  funding I have been the convener of the Media Committee.
This is an area in which I have little experience but because of the
expertise of other committee members, and tremendous energy and
determination, we have been able to get a lot of coverage in newspapers
and on radio and TV.  It was on-the-job learning for some of us, and an
opportunity to use well-honed skills and knowledge for others.  We found

that there are practitioners in our field who have worked -- or are
working -- as reporters, script writers and TV producers, and who have
had other roles in the media.  These folks have been enormously helpful
in guiding us in our media awareness efforts

Perhaps there are also people with media expertise on the NLA list.

I would like to begin a discussion here about adult literacy education
and the media. I hope we can hear from everyone who has worked on
getting attention to adult literacy in the media, in the U.S. as well as
in
other countries.  By media I mean primarily newspapers (articles,
letters to the editor, editorials) television, and radio.  I include
radio and TV talk shows, news features, guest appearances, and other
positive attention to adult literacy education issues.

I have some specific questions which I hope you will respond to:

1.  What media have you -- and others at your program -- worked with
most successfully? What has made your effort a success?

2.  Have you used any of the materials prepared by the National
institute for Literacy, for example, their Public Service Announcements
(PSA's)? Are there any other prepared materials you have found helpful?
For example, Andres Muro and Tom Sticht periodically post messages here
which are intended to be used as articles in local newspapers.  Have you

sent these to your local newspaper?  What has been the result when you
use (or adapt) prepared materials?

3.  How do you sustain a media campaign once you have the media's
attention?

4.  How do you make most advantage of articles in the press for
legislative action?  Does anyone systematically track articles about
adult literacy programs and send them to legislators in whose district
the students or program resides?

5.  How does (or should) a national media campaign differ from a
state-level media campaign?

6.  What other questions should we be asking?

David J. Rosen
NLA List Moderator








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