Media & Communications
Communication plays an important role in coordinating our efforts, increasing awareness, and generating support for our work against domestic and sexual violence.Media Relations
While working with the media represents only one element of the communications work both MCADSV and local programs undertake every day, it plays a large role in developing our presence in a community. This alone can increase a program's visibility, making more people aware of the services a program offers. Working with the media also offers programs and advocates the opportunity to become credible resources for reporters and editors. This offers programs the chance to make sure that news coverage related to domestic and sexual violence is accurate and sensitive.Press (or News) Releases
News or press releases are an important tool when working with the media: they may be used to make an announcement, to proceed a news event, or to provide a response to a current issue or recent story. They should be sent out only when the news is "timely" and will interest a reporter or an editor to cover a story for their newspaper. While we all believe that anything we do should be "newsworthy," it's important to avoid saturating the media with news releases. When you issue them, make them count. If you're not sure an item is "hard news," consider writing an Opinion Editorial, Letter to the Editor, or Commentary (see below).
Your Opinion Counts!
Calling all opinionated individuals who would be interested and willing to write the occasional letter to the editor. Did something happen in your community, state, nation or world that you feel needs to be highlighted or rebutted?
Opinion Editorials (OpEds), Letters to the Editor, and Commentaries are a good way to get information into local newspapers that educate readers (and reporters and editors) on topics relevant to the work we do. Unlike press releases, these are personal statements and will be published as such. A well written OpEd, Letter to the Editor or Commentary can highlight an issue or event, correct a misconception that previous coverage has created, or register support (perhaps dismay) for policies and positions reported in the paper.
Many of our local papers are hungry for well-written content from their readers and local programs. Each paper has slightly different guidelines about length, method of submission, and deadlines, so make sure to check with the paper before you send in your "copy." If you are interested in writing an OpEd, but aren't sure of the protocol or if you'd like to call our attention to a piece that should be included here, please send an e-mail to Kelsen, MCADSV's Executive Director.
We would like to start posting OpEds, Letters to the Editor, and any columns or commentaries related to domestic and sexual violence or violence against women. Currently the list is a little sparse, but with your help (as writers and referrers) we hope it will quickly expand.
Media Campaigns
MCADSV undertakes two media campaigns each year to support national, state, and local efforts during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April.)
In 2005 and 2006, Bresnan Communications sponsered our media campaigns. During the months of October and April, Bresnan Communications agreed to donate commercial airtime (on cable television) across Montana in the communities they serve. The commercials produced from the 2005 Public Education Campaign focused on youth 7 to 19 years old and included messages on violence prevention and the promotion of healthy relationships.
If you would like more information on MCADSV's plans for 2007-2008, please contact Kelsen, MCADSV's Policy Coordinator.
Click here for Domestic Violence Awareness Month materials.
Click here for Sexual Assault Awareness Month materials.
Click here to download a list (Word document) of links to websites of interest to youth.
Media and Communications Resources
Below are some of the resources specific to media work
that we use on a regular basis. In addition to these resources, check
out the resources on our Domestic
Violence and Sexual
Violence pages.
Facts and Numbers
Statistics can be very helpful to shape one's understanding of the
scope and intricacies of an issue or project. On other pages of MCADSV
Web site you will find links to some of the national statistics
relevant to domestic and sexual violence. National statistics are
important, but when working with Montana reporters and editors, having
Montana statistics and being able to bolster them with national numbers
is key. Reporters also ask about trends, so consider pulling together
comparable data for more than one year. Click on the links below to
check out two primary sources of data related to victimization and
sexual and domestic violence.
Montana Board of Crime Control: The MBCC
is the repository for the statistics that law enforcement agencies
across the state collect. The Web site offers a number of crime
reports, some of which searchable by county and crime.
Montana State Supreme Court: The Montana
Supreme Court Administrator's Office publishes the Annual Reports of
the Montana Judiciary, which provide some information about the cases
tried before Montana Courts. They report numbers for domestic violence
and a number of other crimes.
Links
A lot of organizations and groups are doing really exciting things with
media campaigns, Web sites, and the like. Many of those organizations
are already listed as links on the other pages in the Web site. Below,
though, are four links that are media specific that you might find
helpful as you prepare press releases, OpEds, Letters to the Editor,
commentaries, and columns.
The
Montana Newspaper Association: This Web site provides
links and contact information for all newspapers in Montana.
Montana
Broadcasters Association: The MBA represents radio and
television stations throughout the state of Montana. Their Web site
offers a searchable database of members and more.
AlterNet:
AlterNet is a Web site that posts articles written for AlterNet or that
appear in different publications that offers news coverage from an
alternative, progressive voice. Two areas in which they provide indepth
coverage are Media Culture and Rights & Liberties.
The
American Forum: The American Forum is a nonprofit media
organization that works to encourage more citizen debate on important
societal issues. The American Forum collects commentary from its state
editorial boards and posts them for print, broadcase, and "new media"
outlets to pick up and run. The American Forum is slated to organize in
Montana some time in 2004.
SAFETY ALERT: Home computers can pose a safety threat if you are being abused. When you visit this or any other site about domestic or sexual violence, it is possible for your abuser to find out that you have been getting information on domestic or sexual violence. There are some precautions you can take (click here for more information).
If you feel you are in danger after reading this, please call your local crisis hotline or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If the danger is immediate, call 911.
There is always a computer trail, but you can leave this site quickly if you click ESCAPE on the navigation bar or press CTRL W on your keyboard.
To report broken links, or for comments or questions about our website, please click here to let us know.