Welcome, architects of community narrative and guardians of local truth!
Welcome to a new chapter in community storytelling and safeguarding local truths. In a time when traditional community bonds like local news outlets are diminishing, the importance of groups like yours in grassroots communication has skyrocketed. You’re now at the forefront of local news, injecting relevance and trustworthiness back into community information eco-system.
By embarking on this journey, you’re reviving a crucial space once occupied by local news sources. With the decline of these key community pillars, the role of your organization becomes increasingly vital. You stand as the leading force in local news and information, a beacon of significance and dependability amid a flood of momentary headlines and sensationalism.
This guide offers you the tools to build and nurture an information ecosystem that revitalizes the heart of community news. We turn away from the noise of the global scene to concentrate on the impactful trust and influence you can foster within your local communities. Here’s to becoming a trusted source and a beacon of truth on the issues in your neighborhoods, cities, and regions.
Why This Guide Matters
Imagine weaving a digital tapestry that vividly portrays your cause and engages, educates, and empowers your audience to incorporate alongside you. This guide is your loom, and the threads are:
- Insightful Editing: Learn how to shape stories that resonate with narratives that rally people around the cause or issue.
- Strategic Curating: Discover the art of selecting content that sparks conversations and connections.
- Empowering Contributions: Create a platform where every voice matters and every opinion has the space to shine. Bring the debate from the kitchen table into the digital stream with the voices of your community.
- Building Bridges: Understand the critical role of digital engagement in extending your reach and deepening your impact. Consider featuring the perspectives of your organization as well as your opponents.
In the following pages, we’ll guide you through the nuts and bolts of using your WordPress site to amplify your message, engage your community, and turn passive readers into passionate advocates.
Who Will Benefit?
Tailored for the communications champions of volunteer-run advocacy organizations, this guide is an ode to the beginner’s spirit—the grassroots groups, the LGBTQ councils, the local Democratic clubs—all poised to step into the crucial role of local news purveyors. With no prerequisites other than a commitment to truth and community, we will navigate the foundational aspects of WordPress, SEO, and digital engagement together.
As we turn each page, remember: the strength of politics is its locality. Your role as a community organizer endows you with the unparalleled ability to weave an authentic, engaging, and transformative local narrative.
Are you ready to step into this pivotal role? Join us as we chart the course to a revitalized local information landscape that’s rich with the voices of your community.
The Importance of Curated Content
Defining Curated Content
Curated content is the art of sifting through the vast expanse of information available and handpicking the most relevant, accurate, and engaging pieces that resonate with your audience. Unlike original content, created from scratch, curated content involves gathering existing content from various sources and presenting it thoughtfully and organized. It’s like making a mosaic—selecting different pieces and putting them together to tell a comprehensive and compelling story.
The Power of Curation in Grassroots Advocacy
A pillar of grassroots communication strategies is curated content, a tool of empowerment. It streamlines complex information—like the legislative updates from Fairness.org—into digestible, actionable insights. This not only educates and informs but also calls your community to action. When you curate content:
- You Educate: Break down legalese into plain language your audience can understand and relate to.
- You Engage: Craft stories around these bills and laws that stir emotions and spark conversations.
- You Empower: Provide clear, actionable steps that people can take to make a difference, such as calling a representative or attending a rally.
Example One: Fairness.org’s Legislative Action
Fairness.org has a bill tracker that exemplifies curated content with its legislative action page. It’s a masterclass in transforming complex legislative jargon into clear, actionable insights. By spotlighting pertinent issues, they not only educate but also galvanize their community into action, demonstrating the power of focused content curation. In the linked example, we’re highlighting how you can feature the incredible content of the Fairness campaigns bill tracker with additional editorial context to help bring it new life.
Example Two: HRC Hate Crimes Guide
The HRC Hate Crimes Guide is a beacon for those navigating the murky waters of legal complexities. Sharing this guide empowers members with scholarly insights and contextual understanding, showcasing the value of providing access to deeply researched information that supports and amplifies the voice of a movement. In this example, you’re helping community members to discover informational context they might not otherwise discover while providing an editorial lens that suits your organization’s content calendar and local legislation that’s happening in your town council, county, or state.
Example Three: Kentucky Lantern’s Independent Journalism
Independent journalism, as showcased by Kentucky Lantern, is the lifeblood of informed advocacy. By curating and cross-linking to their in-depth legislative coverage, organizations like the LGBTQ Council for Kentucky Democrats not only strengthen their own digital presence but also support the essential work of local journalists, creating a symbiotic relationship that enriches the local news ecosystem. Featuring articles and opinions that respond to and discuss news from sources like the Kentucky Lantern is a great way for you to curate content on your platform that goes a step beyond sharing an article as an individual on social media. In this way you’re strengthening the collective effort of your organizations cause, and becoming a valuable source of relevant information and truth for members of your community and state.
Crafting Your Own Curated Content
To create your own curated content:
- Select Wisely: Choose content that aligns with your mission and resonates with your audience’s values.
- Add Context: Provide your insights or a summary to frame the content within your organization’s perspective.
- Call to Action: Always include what the reader can do next. Whether it’s educating themselves further, sharing the content, or joining an initiative.
Curated content isn’t just about sharing content curation for advocacy; it’s about shaping perspectives and driving action. It’s the salt that enhances the flavor of your advocacy efforts, making every message more potent and every call to action more compelling.
Building a content calendar is an essential step for any organization looking to create a cohesive content strategy. It helps align your team, manage resources efficiently, and ensure a steady stream of content that keeps your audience engaged over time. Here’s how you can approach this:
Building a Content Calendar for Your Organization
Understanding the Value of a Content Calendar:
- A content calendar is a shareable resource for your team to plan all content activities. This not only includes what will be published and when, but also who is responsible for creating the content.
- It allows for better organization, preventing last-minute scrambles for content, and ensuring that you cover a wide range of topics that resonate with your audience.
- By planning ahead, you can align your content with upcoming events, legislative milestones, or advocacy campaigns.
Creating Your Content Calendar:
- Define Your Goals: Start by setting clear objectives for what you want to achieve with your grassroots communication strategies—raising awareness, educating the public, or driving action.
- Identify Key Dates: Look at the calendar year and mark important dates such as national holidays, important events in the LGBTQ community, and significant legislative dates.
- Plan Content Themes: Decide on the themes or topics you want to cover each month or quarter. This could include success stories, in-depth analysis of bills, or educational content on advocacy issues.
- Assign Tasks: Determine who in your team or volunteer network is responsible for creating, editing, and publishing each piece of content. Ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities and deadlines.
- Use the Right Tools: Utilize content calendar tools like Google Calendar, Trello, or Asana to keep track of deadlines and collaborate with your team.
- Review and Adjust: Regularly review your content calendar with your team to make adjustments based on what’s working, upcoming events, or shifting priorities.
- Content Strategy Meetings: Schedule regular meetings to discuss content strategy, brainstorm ideas, and ensure everyone is on the same page with the calendar.
Executing the Content Calendar:
- Encourage your team to work ahead of schedule. Content should be prepared well before publishing to allow time for review and revision.
- Have a system in place for the creation, review, and approval of content. Not everyone needs to know how to interact with the website as long as there is a clear process for submitting and publishing content.
Example in Practice: Utilizing the example of Fairness.org, they might have a content calendar that includes pre-legislative session previews, weekly bill tracking updates, and post-session analyses. By planning this content in advance, they can ensure they provide timely and valuable information to their audience.