- Speak in concrete, personal terms about what’s happening
- Illustrate your environmental issue in personal stories and examples
- Try to use visual details to bring your issue to life (even if your issue is technically “invisible” like air quality problems—show how people are affected through consequences and effects)
B. Tips when talking to reporters
a) Imposter syndrome is a real concern, but you have done this much work to fix your problem so far, so try to avoid the impression that you might not fully understand the problem
b) If you are not the best representative of your group to engage the media, that’s ok—recognizing this is important, and finding someone who is affected by your concern, a part of that community, and can present your case to the media will ultimately strengthen your advocacy
a) Editors by and large want engaging stories; newsworthy items that illustrate an issue of public concern with authentic, relatable characters at the center of it
(lede: “the opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story” [Lexico]) when pitching a story
a) What is the thrust of the story? The main takeaway?
b) How would a random reader or consumer of news understand your issue as you’ve described it?
c) How would you want to read the first two sentences of a reporter’s write up?
