Communication & Media Strategies for the Enforcement Campaign

1. Tales From the Trenches/ Lessons Learned Communication & Media Strategies for the Enforcement Campaign Montebello Police Department Corporal Kelly Gordon Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

2. Getting Started • Determine who your resources are: • Law Enforcement Agencies • Communications Assistance Project • TALC • Local Lead Agency • District Attorney’s Office • BREATH • Other grantees Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

3. Set the guidelines for your agency’s program • Timeline • Know your agency’s press policy • Is there a local reporter who works with your agency on a regular basis (call them) Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

4. Contact the local chamber of commerce • Contact the school district’s TUPE coordinator • BECOME EDUCATED WITH TOBACCO LAWS AND CURRENT ISSUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

5. Drafting a Press Release • Decide what message you are trying to send • Introducing the program • Announcing an upcoming operation • Releasing the results of an operation • Public Service Announcement Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

6. Use your resources • Don’t re-invent the wheel • Call the Communications Assistance Project for help • Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC) has materials available Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

7. Write down the facts you want to include in the press release • Use the information gained to draft a press release • Remember you are not writing a police report • Follow a format suggested by the Communications Assistance Project or another resource Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

8. Have it approved by your agency according to policy • Know press deadlines • Try for a slow news day • Fax it Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

9. Who to Send the Press Release To • Local press contact • Local papers (larger papers probably won’t use it unless you can market it as a public relations piece) • AM news stations • Chamber of Commerce • The Chamber of Commerce and local paper published articles for me Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

10. Presentations • BE EDUCATED • Know your audience • Professional presentation (power point) • Have a handout with the facts • To the point • Don’t spend your time preaching about how bad tobacco is, focus on the laws Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section

11. Lessons Learned • BE EDUCATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Use your resources, help is out there, use it • Take the time to do presentations • Respond to request from others • Work with your Local Lead Agency • Educate the District Attorney’s Office Sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section