Media Support for Hard-to-Place Social Issues
Site updated 8.12.07

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Doug's Gallery of Photographs

New pictures of Doug at a Chicago press conference

Media tips: What to do/What not to do

What Not to Do:

Today's Chicago Tribune Metro Section carries three pictures of Chicago alder-people on the front page. The story is about how they voted on the Big Box ordinance and the affect on low-income workers. But the picture of Emma Mitts (37) says it all. She appears in a fur or fake fur coat and hat, an expensive scarf and cool sunglasses and she is smiling as she relates she stands by her NO vote on the ordinance.

Her choice to be pictured as an upwardly mobile pol talking about a vote that denies people more money is stunning. While she may be very happy she can afford such nice clothes, the image conveyed is one who has made it and the rest be damned.

The Lesson: When appearing on TV or having your picture taken for the newspaper, dress appropriately for the occasion. It’s important to take your ego out of the picture.

What to Do:

Earlier this week State Rep Lou Lang (D-Skokie) held a news conference calling for casinos in Chicago, O’Hare, Lake County and South Suburban Cook County.

I was called about this and told the details of what Lang said. Within one hour I had written a ¾ page news release and faxed and e-mailed it to over 100 media outlets in Chicago, major downstate cities and the Statehouse outlets. This resulted in known coverage by Crain’s, Springfield Journal-Register, WBEZ and Copley News.

If I had not done this for the Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago as their spokesperson no opposition would have been recorded to this casino growth.

The Lesson: When you become aware of breaking news drop your other projects and respond then and there. Of course it’s best if you have lead time, but that doesn’t always happen. Remember that papers print on a schedule, radio and TV stations broadcast on schedules. Be part of it or sit on the sidelines and watch the action.

You can download my 20 steps to improving MEDIA Coverage of poverty issues at my website, Dobmeyer. Com. The steps pertain to any issue just not poverty issues.

Media Tips will appear occasionally.


Help develop Chicago's Museum of Housing Concept Paper: Museum for Housing in Chicago
A Seven-Year Plan for Phase I - III
By Doug Dobmeyer

The concept for this idea flows from other museums or memorials to significant issues in American life. The immediate value of this new institution would be a single-minded focus on the example of issues of and development of housing for all walks of life in Chicago. Given the oral histories and scattered written history of housing development in Chicago, it would make sense to collect this material in one place for preservation and archiving for future generations to study this history.

A secondary value would be to make the museum a center for creative thinking on housing issues. As a “think tank” it could become a local, regional and national center for housing related issues.

There are many players in the housing field and thus many potential funders. Groups such as foundations, non-profit and for-profit developers, private sector funders, architects, state, federal and local government as well as specific individuals and the general public are all potential funders of the short and long-term aspects of this project.

Chicago’s rich history of the two-flat, the bungalow, the CHA, the homeless, high rises, SRO’s, courtyards and upscale housing all beg to be told in a focused history.

While this concept is just that, the following lays out a plan to approach the development and administration of such a housing museum click here to continue:

Download entire discussion in .pdf, or in MS Word

Have you ever wanted immediate attention from the media on an issue vital to your cause?

Recently such an issue came up for a client of Dobmeyer Communications. Within two hours, we were able to e-mail and fax a press release to our extensive list of media contacts and set up interviews with four television stations for the evening news. (continue here)
Letters on Immigration Issues - Germany and the United States

This an exchange of letters I am doing with Katrin Hirseland who works in the area of integration of immigrants into Germany in Nurnberg (Nuremburg). They are posted to a website for a southern German radio network similar to public radio in the United States. The letters in German and English can be found here (if the page comes up in German, click the link on the upper-right to get the English version).

The series came about from two international conferences held in Berlin (2003) and Chicago (2004).

German-U.S. Immigration Trans-Atlantic
Dialogue and Peace efforts in Germany

Berlin Peace Camp
(both of these are LONG .pdf downloads)
Doug comments on George Ryan's
actions to pardon/commute Illinois inmates
Media Coverage of Public Policy Issues in Illinois:
A Survey of Media and Non-Profit Organizations

Download a .pdf copy of the Dobmeyer Communications brochure

Today, more than ever, getting your message to the public is important for the very survival of your organization, However, there is an increasing number of non-profit groups competing for limited space in the print media and restricted time in the electronic media.

If you don't have a media specialist on staff, or if that person is stretched too thin, maintaining contact with the media and the failure to get information to them in a timely manner may mean the loss of public awareness of your issues. In the larger picture, it also may mean the loss of important funding opportunities for your group.

With Dobmeyer Communications you have a professional from the non-profit field to assist you in the areas of training, planning and implementing contact with the media.

Continue . . .

Doug Dobmeyer's comprehensive book: Competing Successfully for Media Coverage: A Guide to Getting Media Coverage for Non-Profit and Community Organizations is a 56 page book written by Doug Dobmeyer, providing the whys and hows of doing good media for non-profits. This book includes succesful examples of written materials for the media, as well as guidance in pitching a story that deserves to be covered by the media.

The book, written over a four year period combines over 30 years of experience, numerous interviews, and research on news coverage of poverty issues.

Competing Successfully for Media Coverage has been popular with the public since being released in 1997. The cost is $25 plus $5 shipping and handling.

  • See the Table of Contents
  • You may order a copy by Emailing Doug (please include your telephone number), by printing and mailing (or faxing to [773] 338-9859]) this order form, or by calling (773) 338-9825.

A publications of Dobmeyer Communications

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