5 tips for effective messaging

The way we package our messages affect the way our audience hears and understands those messages.

1. One Fact

• Facts should support and advance your message, but not BE your message.
• The more facts included in your message, the more distracting they can be.
• Make facts easy to remember (almost a third vs. 31.8%)

2. Solutions

• Provide solutions upfront. A positive tone resonates better with people.
• Avoid crisis cues such as “obesity epidemic.” Instead, try something like, “Preventing childhood obesity now will create a healthier Wisconsin tomorrow.”
• Flip statements to make them positive (i.e., change “Kids don’t get enough physical activity” to “Children who are regularly active are more likely to maintain a healthy weight”). 

3. Ingenuity

• People relate to a can-do spirit. Phrases like, we are ready, we have the tools, and smart cities have taken action.
• See Frameworks for more examples of ingenuity and other values that resonate with broad audiences.

4. Pivot

• Personal responsibility is a strong frame. If this frame is triggered, acknowledge the role of personal responsibility, but pivot back to emphasize the role of the environment in determining health outcomes. 
• Example: While we are each responsible for our own health, communities also play a large role...

5. Story

• Media loves personal stories, but make sure to widen the lens from the individual to the environment
• Keep stories local, tangible and meaningful

For more messaging takeaways see:
A New Way to Talk About the Social Determinants of Health (RWJF)
Framing Food and Fitness as a Public Health Issue (FrameWorks Institute)

Speed Date review: Social Media and Collaborative Communication Tools

Julie Swanson from the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Services offered coalitions an opportunity to "speed date" social media and collaborative communication tools during our Tuesday, Dec. 21st Coalition Teleconference.

Social Media Tools

• Blogs use to publish information (ex. http://hip-eatmovelive.blogspot.com/)
• RSS (real simple syndication) use to keep up to date on blogs (ex. use a reader like Google Reader to follow blogs you're interested in)
• Micro-Blog use to get out quick updates to a mass audience (ex. http://www.twitter.com/)
• Photo sharing use to share photos with colleagues and/or find photos for documents or presentations (ex. http://www.flickr.com/, https://posterous.com/)
• Video sharing use to share video — spread excitement and model action (ex. http://www.youtube.com/, http://www.vimeo.com/)
• Social Networks provide an online community that connects you with other people (ex. http://www.facebook.com/)

Collaborative Communication Tools

• RSVP Tools provide easy, fast way to set up meetings (ex. http://www.meetingwizard.com/)
• Survey use to collect data in real time (ex. www.surveymonkey.com)
• Collaborative calendars, documents, wikis, and video chat make planning and editing collaborative and communication easier (ex. Google)
  

What social media and collaborative communication tools do your coalitions use? Please share examples of blogs, wikis, websites, etc. Click on Comment below to respond.

Making Schools Active Schools: Connecting with Local Schools and School Boards

Nov. 16 Teleconference Highlights

What's going on in schools?
DPI is working on improving physical activity opportunities in schools using a variety of strategies, including:

• Physical Education Requirements
• Active Schools
• Movin' and Munchin' Schools
• Health Education Standards

Each of these areas offers opportunities to coalitions to interact with schools. Some examples include:

• Assessing the school board's knowledge of and attitudes toward programs and/or policies related to physical activity
• Educating school board members on available resources (e.g. Active Schools toolkit or training on active recess strategies)
• Encouraging districts to review policies and plans reguarly to improve implementation

What's going on in Active Schools pilot sites?
Active School pilot sites are up and running in 21 sites across the state.

• Schools have collected Activity Logs from students and sent fitness assessment results to the state
• Coalitions have collaborated with schools on disseminating communication materials about district efforts, assisted with surveys and program planning, and assisted with programs

How can our coalition connect and work with schools on policy issues?
All Active Schools coalitions are asked to connect with local school districts, here are some tips for getting started:

1) Consider which districts you have already worked with.

2) Questions to think about when approaching a school …

• What does our coalition want from schools as part of a partnership effort?
• What can our coalition offer schools as part of a partnership effort?
• How does Active Schools fit the educational mission of the schools?

3) Conduct an assessment of your selected district to understand what they already are doing related to physical activity policies in their district. Some ideas of places to start include:

• Request a copy of your School Wellness Policy
• Interview with school district contact on your coalition or a school official (local policymaker assessment) – what might encourage the district to initiate an Active Schools policy?
• Understand the context of your selected district:
  - Who are the key education leaders in your district?
  - If school board action is necessary, what are the best ways to approach individual board members and/or the board as a whole?
  - Who do your district’s key leaders and school board members need to hear from?

Teleconference Share Back!
Help and learn from each other by leaving a comment responding to the following question:

How will you connect with your school district in the next month?