CPJ's Advocacy Toolkit / Table of Contents
CPJ’s Advocacy Toolkit
Getting Started
Developing an Advocacy Strategy
Advocacy How To’s
- Forming Relationships with Policy-Makers
- Calling Your MP
- Meeting With Your MP
- Writing a Letter to Your MP
- Writing a Letter to a Cabinet Minister
- Meeting with civil servants
- Writing a One-Page Brief
- Preparing and Submitting a Petition
- Organizing a Public Meeting
- Organizing a Demonstration
- Working with the Media
- Writing a Press Release
- Using Social Media
- Engaging Younger Generations
Additional Resources
Social media is here to stay.
The use of social media in Canada today shows a powerful trend among the population. People of all ages are increasingly using social media daily.
In 2012, according to 6S Marketing:
- 80% of Canadians (27.4 million people) were connected to the Internet
- 64% of Canadians had a social network profile
- 79% of Canadians did not leave home without their mobile device
The value of social media as tool for advocacy should not be ignored in today’s context. However, traditional advocacy tactics are still important. Though ongoing debate about the effectiveness of social media for specific advocacy continues, using social media strategically could amplify advocacy efforts. We can use the power of social media for social good.
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, etc.) can be used to:
- Communicate with groups of people about a concern.
- Mobilize those groups to take action.
When Using Social Media
- Focus (single measurable goal)
- Grab Attention (make people look)
- Engage (personal stories, touch emotions, authenticity)
- Take action (and empower others to take action)
Possible Advantages
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Go Deeper: For more information and ideas on using social media in advocacy, check out The Dragonfly Effect by Jennifer Aaker & Andy Smith. |
Choosing Social Media Tools
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOL | WHAT IS IT? | POTENTIAL OUTCOMES? |
Tip: Keep posts short and conversational, |
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YouTube |
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Blog |
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Tips
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Keep in Mind: Link Your Tools! Facebook is one of the most popular social media sites. Link any Twitter, YouTube, and blog posts to your Facebook page. |
Go Deeper: Start Blogging. There are many different blogging websites. Here are two to help you get started: blogger.com wordpress.com |
Go Deeper: Social Media Terms. For definitions of social media terms, visit Constant Contact. |
Go Deeper: Resource for Organizations. For organizations and groups, social media can be an effective tool for networking, communications, and seeking feedback from members. Visit Nonprofit Tech for Good at nptechforgood.com for helpful ideas on how to best use social media. | |
Keep in Mind: Other Social Media Tools. There are many other social media tools that can be used for education and advocacy. Here are some others you could include in your strategy: Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, |