Training Series: Media Support

Rescheduled from 7/19 This training will last 90 minutes.**

Join us for Media Support Training!

What is messaging? Messaging is the most important part of any action. The messaging of an action includes:

• The Target. Examples: Government figures, corporate leadership, etc.
• The Demand. Examples: Ban new fossil fuel infrastructure, move the East Boston substation to Logan Airport, protect 30% of Massachusetts land and water by 2030.
• The Imagery. Examples: Big red stop signs to indicate the need to urgently stop fossil fuel usage, coffins and pallbearers to represent climate-related deaths.
• The Communication. Examples: Outreach to journalists to ensure coverage of an action, creation of content for social media, sharing the messaging angle with other chapter members so they can explain when asked.

Messaging is a crucial part of the action planning process, because if an action and its messaging does not reach newspapers, television, radio, or social media, the public won't know the action happened, and the targets won't feel as much pressure to act as a result of the demonstration.

Earlier this year, members of XR Boston's Media & Messaging team put together a guide about how to integrate messaging into an action. Topics in this guide include: Where does XR Boston get its messaging from? How do we bake the messaging into an action? How does the messaging get into newspapers, television, or radio? How is messaging spread on social media channels?

We want to teach you our media strategies! Join us on Wednesday August 2 at 7 pm for an online Media Support Workshop. During the training, members of XR Boston will discuss the concepts and techniques of messaging with participants. Sign up through Zoom and we will send you the action messaging guide. Before the workshop, please review the guide and pick any topic that you would like to discuss.

Who should attend this presentation? Anyone who wants to learn how actions convey messages should attend this presentation! Whether you're an action organizer, someone who wants to know more about messaging strategy, someone who enjoys creating content, or someone with a passion for journalism, you'll glean important tips and tools from some of XR Boston's experienced communicators. Rebels from other XR chapters or from other organizations are encouraged to attend, to share your perspectives and learn from a different angle!

Other media workshops!

Wednesday August 16, How to Talk to the Media: Join us on the Cambridge Common at 7 pm to practice interview skills.

Wednesday August 23, Remote Media Desk Training: You can attend this online workshop from anywhere! Starting at 7 pm, you'll learn how to manage a contemporaneous action media desk, including press outreach and social media coverage.

Are you curious to learn more about different support roles for Extinction Rebellion Boston?

Other sessions include:

• Peacekeeping & deescalation, Monday August 21: Help guide people where to go and keep protest safe by blocking traffic block of streets for us along the parade route.

• Police Liaison, Monday August 28: Conveys information and demands between the police and the group before/during actions. Helps to keep the police calm and reminds them of our non-violence.

• Arrest support: Provides direct personal support for arrestable people. They have all relevant personal information, will take the call from the police station, provide support at the police station and makes sure everyone gets home safely.