Advocates from more than a dozen states recently logged into a quick-response huddle to talk through issues relating to public statements—namely when, why, how, and to whom we should make them. The conversation was facilitated by Josh Gryniewicz of Odd Duck Communications, the Alliance’s new responsive support provider for communications and narrative framing. In advance, the Alliance created this shared document that allies can use to share and read each other’s recent statements.
As the conversation began, there appeared to be a fairly large consensus among state allies that public statements don’t likely serve their purpose right now.
Statements feel good to make, demonstrate that we are standing in solidarity with those under threat, and make clear our organizations’ stances on policy issues. Unfortunately, they also have the potential to draw attention to and deepen political divides, distracting or diminishing their impact on state policy advocacy. They can also become out-of-date in a matter of days or even hours.
There are other communication tools in our toolbox that are more effective in this fast-changing, highly charged environment. Giving ourselves permission not to react to every headline and development gives us some power back. Take breaks. Process. Settle in for a marathon.
Other advice for responding to developments in the current environment included:
- Set boundaries. Pick two-three key issues that you deeply care about and are central to your mission, then focus your attention there. Messaging impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness. Know that other partners—including national issue organizations–are working where their strengths are. Consider focusing your messaging on the state work and making statements about the governor’s budget and state legislative actions.
- Practice going slow. Take a breath before reacting publicly to new information, and consider waiting 24 hours to weigh your best role. The urgent clouds the important. Save your energy for the threats that persist.
- Build community. Cultivate two-way conversations. Have lots of “private” conversations with your partners. Several states are now hosting regular calls like Strategies for Children’s 9:30 Call that grew out of the pandemic. We are in another moment where we need to be conduits of information and impact, and mobilizers of community. In an era of misinformation and highly fragmented media, community is your superpower.
- Don’t duplicate when you can amplify. Are others in your state dedicating communications resources to an effort to message against a harmful proposal? If so, it’s likely a better use of your resources to join in and amplify their messaging.
- Focus on impacts. What does this latest proposal mean for children in your state? Elevate what cuts in funding and the climate of fear mean for the health and well-being of children, with concrete examples and stories from your state–and policymakers’ districts. Focus on children as innocent and unable to speak for themselves. Can you create a common themeline that stretches across all your issue areas (e.g. “Defunding [STATE]’s kids is defunding [STATE]’s strong future.”)
- Cultivate effective messengers. Sometimes the answer is volume, but often it’s one or two strategic messengers. Who do you need to convince? Who convinces them?
- Avoid blaming people and parties. Keep the focus on the issues and the impacts. Fight ideas–not people.
Strong communications strategy is always grounded in focus–concentrating on specific audiences and framing–to minimize dilution and ensure our limited bandwidth and resources work as hard as possible and are not diluted. It’s a discipline that’s difficult to practice when developments are happening on numerous fronts at once.
State early childhood policy advocates and communications staff appreciated the chance to compare notes, share frustrations, and trade strategies for maximizing communications impact.
