How do I get started?
How do I get started?
Here is a step-by-step guide to de-mystify the process of creating and publishing your own media (click to enlarge).
Why do we tell stories? What makes a powerful story?
Why do we tell stories? What makes a powerful story?
- Storytelling: Why It Matters and How To Get It Right – (pg. 9) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Duncan Meisel
- Telling Your Story – 350.org Workshop (more detail in Telling Your Public Story – worksheet by Marshall Ganz)
- Think Narratively: Sometimes the best response to a powerful enemy is a powerful story – Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution
- Six Tools for Climate Change Art – Franke James
- Why is Story So Powerful? and Basic Storytelling Skills: Story structure – Guide to narrative and story-based approaches in community building – St Ethelburga’s
- F.R.A.M.E.S: How to craft an effective message – Center for Story-based Strategy
- Art Tips for Activists [Video] – Ralph King
- The Organizer’s Guide to the Galaxy: Message in a Bottle – Wellstone Action
Examples of opinion editorials and creative media
Examples of opinion editorials and creative media
All of these examples are from our COP21 & COP22 delegates, and range from international news to self-created content and campus publications.
- Kayla in Yes! Magazine: Four Ways to Look at Standing Rock: An Indigenous Perspective
- Ryan in Common Dreams: From Executive Power to People Power on Climate
- Devi in Everyday Feminism: 5 Alarming Ways that Climate Change is Racist
- Morgan in the New Internationalist: COP22: Why Climate Justice Must Also be a Struggle for Sovereignty
- Kayla and Ryan on Facebook Live at COP22
- Dineen in PowerShift blog: Why I’m (Mindfully) Celebrating the Suspension of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline
- Laura’s video of mobilizations in Paris
- Aly in Huffington Post: Biggest Moments In Youth Activism at the UN Climate Negotiations
- Anthony on Democracy Now: #ZeroBy2050
- Garrett in South Bend Tribune: Indiana can be a Climate Leader
- Soumya’s COP21 podcast: They met at COP and hit “record”
- Leehi in The Dartmouth: Standing at a Crossroads
- Dyanna in Richmond Times Dispatch: International Agreement Pushes Virginia to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels
- Christian in Boulder Weekly: An ambitious agreement would benefit Colorado
Creative Challenge examples from last year’s COP22 Delegates!
Creative Challenge examples from last year’s COP22 Delegates!
Want some inspiration? To get a sense of what type of work was accepted last year, refer to the COP22 Delegates’ Creative Challenge submissions on their individual bio pages here!
Informational Webinars!
Informational Webinars!
Last year’s Creative Challenge brought forth webinars on various topics, all facilitated by different members of the SustainUS community aiming to support applicants to this process and demystify what happens at COP. They’re too good not to share!
How do I write an opinion editorial?
How do I write an opinion editorial?
- Writing an Effective Opinion Editorial – Climate Tracker
- How to Structure a News Article – Climate Tracker
- 7 Ways to Use Data Effectively – Climate Tracker
- 6 Things You Need to Know When Using a Quotation – Climate Tracker
How do I bring media to my action?
How do I bring media to my action?
- An Activist Guide to Exploiting the Media (Includes: How to Write a Press Release) – George Monbiot
- Do The Media’s Work For Them – Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution
- Writing a Media Advisory – The Leadership Conference
How do I contact the media?
How do I contact the media?
- Writing and Pitching Op-Eds – Climate Nexus
- The First Secret to Getting Published: Finding Editors – Climate Tracker
- How to Pitch to Editors – Climate Tracker
- 8 Simple Tricks That Boosted My Pitching Success – Climate Tracker
- The Dos and Don’ts of Pitching Journalists on Social Media – Mashable
Facebook resources
Facebook resources
- Facebook 101 – (pg. 13) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Michael Crawford & Cameron Tolle
- 12 Secrets to Remixing Facebook for Social Change – (pg. 18) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Green Memes
- How to Unleash a Facebook Storm – (pg. 22) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Henia Belallia
Twitter resources
Twitter resources
- Twitter 101: Becoming Fluent in the Basics – (pg. 26) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Beth Becker
- Twitter 201: Taking Twitter to the Next Level – (pg. 32) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Meena Hussain
- An Activist’s Guide to Live Tweeting – The Electronic Intifada
Photography, videography and graphic design resources
Photography, videography and graphic design resources
- How To Film Protests – Chris Michael
- How to Make Memes (Without Any Graphic Design Skills) – (pg. 42) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Green Memes
- Move the world: Ace photography tips & How to rock out with flickr – (pg. 49) in The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide Ever – Shadia Fayne Wood