NPAction Update
Vol 2, Issue 7
3/30/2004

Welcome to this week's edition of the NPAction Update. You are receiving this newsletter as requested during your registration with NPAction.org. To unsubscribe, send an email to npaction@npaction.org

In this issue:

*What's New*
*Current Poll*
*Featured Article*
*Featured Resource Links*
*Hey, You Asked*



*What's New*


MediaChannel.org has recently published "Cooking with the Internet: A Recipe for Grassroots Success," an insightful article that identifies the five main ingredients to successful online advocacy through social networking.

In "Cooking with the Internet: A Recipe for Grassroots Success", Jonathan Peizer looks back at the public feast that was the Howard Dean campaign and identifies the essential five course meal that contributes to online success. His ingredients are a salient issue, effective organizers, an efficient platform for organizing, resources, and leadership. That's not so different from the principles of old school organizing, which reassures me that the author is probably right on.

"Cooking with the Internet: A Recipe for Grassroots Success"
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert151.shtml


*Current Poll*

This issue we ask if your organization has ever used paid broadcast media to
advocate for or against an issue (often called issue advertising). Vote on this
week's poll, continuously displayed on the right hand side of the site (just
don't try to vote twice!!).

Here's your chance to ask a question you've wanted to ask other nonprofits, but couldn't figure out how. Send your idea for a poll to npaction@npaction.org.

Past Poll Results
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/207



*Featured Article*

This issue's featured article is an excerpt from Nancy Amidei's advocacy manual
"So You Want to Make a Difference" and deals with a topic that can be intimidating for many nonprofits: advocacy through the media. The article provides practical tips for organizations who would like to get media attention for their issues, either through hiring a communications staff, or by creative use of present staff.

"Working with the Media"
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/204/1/114/

More articles on media advocacy
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/114/

Remember that you can rate and comment on most NPAction articles by clicking the "New Comment" button at the end of an article.



*Featured Resource Links*

The NPAction Resource Links Directory is a human-edited compendium of tools and references, contributed by nonprofits for nonprofits.

The SPIN Project (Strategic Press Information Network) is an excellent resource for nonprofits that would like to broaden (or begin) their media outreach efforts. Through a series of tutorials, nonprofits can learn about everything from photo opportunities to cultivating relationships with reporters to internet public relations. There's even a section on how to set up a media outreach position in the first place.

The SPIN Project
http://www.spinproject.org/


The second link is a case study of the approach that Fenton Communications uses in advocacy communications. Covering everything from budgets to audience identification, this report offers a glimpse into the inner workings of an advocacy communications shop whose clients range from Greenpeace to the Kennedy School of Government. Learn the secrets of the pros!

"Now Hear This"
http://www.fenton.com/resources/nht_report.asp

More resource links on media advocacy:
http://www.npaction.org/link/category/85/

Suggest a Resource Link
http://www.npaction.org/link/suggestlink



*"Hey, You Asked"*

A reader asks if Citizen Works, a 501(c)(3) organization, can share office space
with Ralph Nader's presidential campaign. See the response at
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/454/1/214/

To ask a question for the experts behind "Hey, You Asked" go to:
http://www.npaction.org/forum/messagelist/170



*"Steal This Code": Put NPAction on Your Site*

NPAction invites organizations to share our tools on their websites. Choose a logo that best meets your needs, whether you want to link to our site, incorporate our search engine with results from a range of nonprofit sources, add the ability to connect to federal lawmakers and national media, or state-level policymakers and media. Just copy the HTML code from our site, and you're ready to go (but when you steal the code, just let us know!).

"Steal the Code" today
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/208


*NPAction Update Archives*
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/210/


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NPAction, an online resource hosted by OMB Watch, provides access to tools and information for nonprofit advocacy from a wide range of organizational partners and sources in order to encourage greater participation by nonprofits in the policy arena. Funding for this project was provided by Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.

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