480 likes | 492 Views
Learn how to create effective messages that promote influence and power in various contexts, including media advocacy, early care and education, and health equity. Explore the elements of a message, the concept of a message wheel, and strategies for engaging lawmakers, the media, and other audiences. Gain valuable storytelling and interview skills to effectively communicate your message.
E N D
Using Compelling Messages to Build Influence + Power Terra Hall, Media Advocacy Manager, Voices for Healthy Kids
Early Care and Education + Head Start Message Research Using a Message Wheel Health Equity Framing a Message that Works
Elements of a message • Problem • Solution • Ask • Urgency • Hope
What Is a Message Wheel? • Visual format for organizing the messages that are key to your issue • Heart of message – that one thing you always want to share – is placed in the wagon • Supporting statements – which would likely include the problem, solution, and one or two other key statements - are the wheels that carry that message
What is a Message Wheel? • Your most important message – that one thing you always want to share – is placed in the middle of the wheel. • Supporting statements – which would likely include the problem, solution, and one or two other key statements - are placed around the wheel like spokes. • Points that explain or expound on your supporting statements are added under each heading.
Kids need healthy food and beverages. All children, no matter where they live or go for child care, deserve healthy food and time for active play. Kids need time every day to play and be active Kids should not spend too much time in front of a screen. Early care and education standards support the needs of children, parents, and providers.
Health Equity Equity and equality are two strategies we can use in an effort to produce fairness. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful.
How Can Health Equity Be Used in Early Care and Education + Head Start?
Values-based Messages to Call for Health Equity in Public Policy Look at the places where there is the greatest gap in opportunities for people to be healthy, and focusing changes there first so people are able to reach their full potential. We can determine where that is based on clear criteria, and any community could be eligible. • Message • Why it works Aligns with human potential value. Essential to emphasize that defining “greatest need” is not limited to a certain group or type of community. Rather, any community could be eligible. (The word eligible was a key term in testing with decisionmakers and likely voters.)
Talking to Lawmakers • What is the government’s role in health equity? • Opinions vary across the political spectrum. • How can you make both sides of the aisle see eye-to-eye?
Talking to Lawmakers Regardless of political affiliation, voters and lawmakers alike agree that government can help by making smart investments. As advocates, you can reinforce this by focusing on government’s role in creating healthier conditions in communities—along with community members, parents, the private sector and others. This also creates a perfect opening to talk about how to make policies most effective.
Who’s Responsible? • Individual and parental responsibility vs. governmental responsibility • Individualism is a very strong American value • Most people believe parents are the decision-makers for their children
To avoid getting stuck in this argument, start every conversation from the perspective of community conditions, rather than individual behaviors and needs.
Small Group Discussion • What’s at the heart of your message wheel? • Equity vs. Equality • How to talk to lawmakers, the media and voters • Individual vs. government roles
Audience • Who is your audience? • Why are you engaging this person/group? • What common ground do you share with your audience? • What story can you tell that will capture them?
Role Play Time! • Role Play #1: Speaking to a lawmaker who is lukewarm/neutral on the issue that you hope to convert as a supporter • Role Play #2: Speaking to a lawmaker who is opposed • Role Play #3: Speaking to another ECE/HS parent, provider or organization that you hope to recruit to work on the campaign • Role Play #4: Speaking to the media about how ECE/HS benefit the entire community
Speaking to a lawmaker who is lukewarm/neutral on the issue that you hope to convert as a supporter
Speaking to another ECE/HS parent, provider or organization that you hope to recruit to work on the campaign
Speaking to the media about how ECE/HS benefit the entire community
Storytelling Elements of Great Storytelling Interview Basics Using the 27-9-3 Model
Interview Basics • Write your own headline.
Interview Basics • Write your own headline. • Keep your message clear and simple.
“IF YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN IT TO A SIX YEAR OLD, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT YOURSELF.”
Interview Basics • Write your own headline. • Keep your message clear and simple. • First impressions stick. Start strong. • Body language matters.
Interview Basics • Write your own headline. • Keep your message clear and simple. • First impressions stick. Start strong. • Body language matters. • Use emotion to tell stories.
Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important?
What is 27-9-3? This framework requires you to make your persuasive point in no more than: • 27 words within a time frame • For no longer than 9 seconds • With no more than 3 points discussed
Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important?
Lawmaker Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important? • What might appeal to their direct self-interest? • What do you want your audience to think or understand about your issue? • How do you want them to feel about what you have said? • What do you want your listener to do after they hear your message?
Journalist Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important? • What might appeal to their direct self-interest? • What do you want your audience to think or understand about your issue? • How do you want them to feel about what you have said? • What do you want your listener to do after they hear your message?
Volunteer + Advocate + Parent Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important? • What might appeal to their direct self-interest? • What do you want your audience to think or understand about your issue? • How do you want them to feel about what you have said? • What do you want your listener to do after they hear your message?
Why do you think Early Care and Education + Head Start are important?
Come up with your own message that you will direct to your own audience
Terra HallMedia Advocacy ManagerVoices for Healthy KidsTerra.Hall@heart.org212.380.3919