Buoy 231 Consulting
A winning advocacy campaign is one that is impossible to ignore. And the only way you can be impossible to ignore is to have consistent, clear communications. But it can be so hard to do. It doesn’t have to be.
Jul 01 • 2 min read
The Simple Tool I've Used for Years to Track Media Coverage
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Hi Reader - I shared this tip last year and it's still one I get the most questions about, so worth a repeat for anyone who missed it! My first internship (waaaay back in the late 1990s!) was in a busy nonprofit communications office. One of my tasks was to create clip packets, which were compilations of the organization’s news coverage. Back then, it meant physically cutting news articles out of the paper and pasting them onto sheets of paper so they could be photocopied. I’d then type up a list of the articles in the packet to create a cover page. It meant hours with lots of glue sticks and fingers stained with newsprint. We’ve come a long way - no more newsprint stains on my shirts! - and it’s so much easier to track and share media coverage. A clip packet, even if it is digital, is still a very helpful tool. I’ve created packets to:
And it’s also a great tool to celebrate success when you and your team can see all of your hard-won coverage in one place! But I’ve also learned the hard way that when you need the clips, you want them right at your fingertips. Otherwise, you find yourself scrambling to dig out links to old news stories – and possibly staring at a 404: Page Not Found error! Skip the software. A spreadsheet is all you need.Yes, there is software you can purchase to automate coverage tracking. I’ve found that it’s pricey and loaded with unnecessary features that most nonprofits don’t need. I’m a big believer that simple is best. Over the years, I’ve found that all you need is a Google Sheet to track your coverage. The simplicity makes it easy to log news coverage at the moment, not six months later when you’re compiling a grant report. I’ve created a shareable version of the simple tracking sheet I’ve used for years. When you hit the button below, you’ll be prompted to make a copy of the sample tracking sheet, which includes instructions on how to use it.
Customize it to meet your needs and drop me a reply if you have any questions! P.S. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and scrambling to get your communications out the door, I can help! When I help nonprofits build their communications strategy, a key piece is how to get your team organized – and stay organized – so you can focus on the message, not the mayhem. I have capacity this fall for a few new clients. Let’s chat. Schedule a free discovery call. |
A winning advocacy campaign is one that is impossible to ignore. And the only way you can be impossible to ignore is to have consistent, clear communications. But it can be so hard to do. It doesn’t have to be.