Live and Local
I was part of an interview today where we talked the best way for an education advocacy group to reach the people most directly affected...the parents and children who are a part of the school system. We talked about social media, mobile media, the website and and old fashioned print media. We also shared ideas on what effect these tools are having on grass roots efforts. Later today members of the advocacy group are going out to meet people. Not only to inform the people served by the school system, but to build alliances within the community. The idea is to involve parents in the educational system in a heavily urbanized and poorly resourced school system. The goal is to make it better. The goal is to graduate more students and increase the quality of that education.
Then this evening I read the post by Fred Jacobs on his jacoBLOG on how President Obama is engaging voters. Fred says the strategy is to be where the people are in person and through social media. It's a combination of old and new. It's also about talking about and being about local. The strategy is this:
Know where the people are.
Be where the people are.
Mix traditional media and new platforms.
Grow reach by connecting with digital communities.
Fred supports the idea that local radio (and television) needs to focus on issues that are local and impact our communities. "...the funding for your local art museum, potholes on your local freeways, and the impact the drought is having on area farmers are all issues that hold a special relevance to your listeners."
As I listened to members of the advocacy talk about how they wanted to reach and communicate their constituencies, I was struck with how important it is to use all of their communications tools to engage and inform. And, I agree with Fred Jacobs that public radio can learn a lot form the Obama campaign on how they are trying to reach voters.
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