Climate Change is the biggest threat ever to face humanity. So why aren’t the many issues of climate change the headline news stories every day? How can we get our news media to provide the coverage these issues demand? One way is through the MARCH MEDIA MADNESS campaign: Fill the inboxes of reporters of media with messages to get better coverage of climate change.
In 2021, NAZCCA’s March Media Madness efforts pushed the Arizona Daily Sun Newspaper to include a monthly “Spotlight on Climate” column. In 2022, we’d like to push other Northern Arizona publications to introduce similar columns, and to see more climate news in the Daily Sun. Click the buttons below to submit a letter to the editor of your local paper:
HOW CAN YOU HELP? Spread the word to your fellow activists and networks to write letters to the editor, press releases, op-eds, PSA’s, and pieces of other communication to their media outlets. Each letter needs to be unique so write them about climate change topics you know and care about.
TOPICS: “A Letter a Day Keeps the Media AWAKE!” here are possible topics:
Describe a global impact and make it local, on the economy, housing, agriculture, business, water, human health, people’s incomes, etc…
Show the gains in local job growth, personal health, better living from a global climate solution.
Describe how low and middle income people are most affected by climate change.
Express your chagrin that millions of people were displaced last year due to climate disasters.
Describe how a policy helps to slow climate change locally, regionally, globally.
Point out how life is threatened, not just of humans, but of plants and animals.
For us in Northern Arizona some hot topics include:
Declaring a Climate Emergency
Climate justice and environmental racism
Drought and the increased risk of wildfire
Local Climate migrants
Climate refugees and their need of help
The loss of Ponderosa Pines and the shift to Pinyon Juniper woodland
Increased risk of disease as mosquito populations increase …and many more.
Remember that your media are more likely to publish things that will be of interest to their readers.
HOW TO WRITE? Look at your top media outlets’ website(s). Find instructions on what length a letter to the editor, PSA (public service announcement), op-ed, or press release can be. If it is a letter to the editor, then write as if you are speaking to someone. If it is a press release, then write in the third person as if you are the neutral voice of a narrator. Use words that most people will understand without using a dictionary.
This campaign will be as big as we make it. Please add your voice to make it roar!! Post your published articles to social media including NAZCCA Facebook, FFF Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc…
PAST EVENTS & RECORDINGS:
WRITING TO SPARK ACTION
Learn skills in creating effective writing communication! View our workshop from March 2021 with Bonnie Lane as she shares her knowledge in choosing your words to be most effective, sparking action in your writing, and how to address your audience to gain, and retain, their attention.
MMM LAUNCH PARTY & WORKSHOP
Learn about the March Media Madness campaign. Learn strategies and best practices for reaching the people at your local newspaper, radio station, or other media. Get advice on writing letters to the editor, press releases, and public service announcements. This workshop was recorded for March 2021, so dates and events may vary, but the strategies and information are still relevant!
