|
Who
Stepped Up
Consistency
Is Essential To PR Campaigns: When state
legislators pulled the plug on red-light cameras in
2005, they sparked a masterful PR campaign that, against
the odds, persuaded the General Assembly to bring
them back effective July 1. Citizens, local elected
officials and groups such as sheriff and police departments
all played a role in the victory. Their combined effort
waged an effective PR campaign worth noting. Keys
to their success were: lobbying with passion and tact,
keeping reporters in the loop with updates, enabling
reporters to write stories around newsworthy special
events, writing Op-Ed pieces and Letters to the Editor,
stirring up voters to pressure delegates, and keeping
their grassroots supporters informed through a robust
communications loop that included blogs, Web sites,
email campaigns and newsletters. It took almost two
years, but by consistently and clearly taking their
message to state legislators, the media and the citizens,
the red-light advocates won the day. PR campaigns
that start and stop for a myriad of excuses usually
take a backseat to campaigns that are well orchestrated,
finely tuned, and as consistent as the rising sun
in the east. |
