Additional Internet Resources:
There are numerous listings of charities and foundations concerned with enhancing community education that can be found through random Internet searches. The following are some sites focused on education in Canada:

• Canadian Education Policy and Administration Network: www.cepan.ca
• Canadian Social Planning Network: www.ccsd.ca
• Charity Village: www.charityvillage.ca
• The Citizen's Handbook: www.vnc.bc.ca/citizens_handbook/ Note: url valid at time of publication
• Directory of Funding Agencies: http://pansy.rgo.ualberta.ca/rgodocs/sources/net_sources.htrml
  Note: url valid at time of publication

Advocacy

Media Campaigns

Newspapers, radio and television are valuable means to disseminate information and to develop popular support. Media attention is dependent on the impact of the issue and on how well the information is "packaged." Journalists are driven by deadlines and the faster they can access the story, the more likely it will be picked up. Make up a media contact list, with phone, fax and e-mail addresses of all outlets that will cover the issue, and give potential spokespeople copies of the list. Develop relationships with journalists who have demonstrated an interest in understanding of the cause and keep them informed. Invite media to all public events and if possible offer journalists a table and chairs and other facilities to make their job easier. Nurture several spokespeople within the community to provide added dimension to the media coverage and to offer the perception of broad public support. At times media coverage may be inaccurate or even damaging. Approach these situations professionally; it is not in the interest of media campaigns to alienate journalists or producers.

Below are some avenues of media coverage:

For Immediate Release:

• Press releases are quick and effective means to offer a story to the media.
• Use the media contact list to ensure general distribution; a fax machine that is programmed with the media list saves time.
• Keep the press release to one page and follow a regular format.
• State the essence of the story in the first paragraph and try to use a catchy phrase.
• Include one or two quotes from the leader(s) of the organization (not too many).
• Give the names and numbers of one or two contact people who can provide additional information and who will stay by the phone throughout the day following the release.