25 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 p (202) 628-8787 f (202) 662-3510 www.childrensdefense.org

Communications and Media Training Mini-Plenary Sessions and Workshops Overcoming Divides in Politics and Religion and Learning to Communicate Across Boundaries

Tuesday, July 24 4:30 – 6:00

Bea Larsen, Senior Mediator, Center for the Resolution of Disputes, and Member of the Steering Committee, Beyond Civility Robert Rack, Member of the Steering Committee, Beyond Civility, retired Chief Circuit Mediator for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Frances Strickland, Ph.D., Former First Lady of Ohio

This interactive session will present the cutting edge research of Dr. Jonathan Haidt, author of the new bestseller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, and his framework to overcome the heat, anger and division of polarizing issues and instead adopt an approach of wonder and curiosity. Joining the dialogue will be leading advocates and public figures who are working together with grassroots activists to chart a new communications paradigm to build bridges across boundaries and advance the needs of our most vulnerable.

Media Matters: How to Get Reporters to Cover Your Story Monday, July 23 1:30 – 3:00

Patti Hassler, Vice President of Communications and Outreach, Children’s Defense Fund Scott Britton, Coordinator, Advocates for Ohio’s Future Tina Kelly, Author, former reporter for the New York Times Victor Neufeld, Executive Producer, Fenton Communications, former Executive Producer, ABC News 20/20

This session will feature a panel of national and local reporters and effective child advocates. Through the reporters’ eyes, participants will learn how to frame a story to best capture a reporter’s attention. Advocates will focus on how to get more attention for unreported and underreported stories about children.

Organizing with Social Media to Create Change Wednesday, July 25 1:30 – 3:00

Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director, Progress Ohio Dani McClain, Campaign and Media Director, Color of Change Scott Jacobsen, Deputy Director of Communication & Outreach, Children’s Defense Fund

Few knew about the tragic death of Trayvon Martin until online petitions changed that in a matter of days. Protests and marches were organized in communities around the country as traditional media scrambled to catch up. This session will examine the Trayvon Martin case, and learn how to better use social media to organize and create change.

How to Write For Social Media Tuesday, July 24 10:45 – 12:15

Jimi Izrael, Web Editor and Writer, Children’s Defense Fund Monifa Bandele, Campaign Director, Moms Rising Scott Jacobsen, Deputy Director of Communication & Outreach, Children’s Defense Fund

Build your social media skills, bring your questions and learn how to ratchet up your online engagement. This session will focus on writing for maximum social media engagement and how to make bloggers and opinion writers your advocates.

Media Training for Advocates Monday, July 23 3:30 – 5:00

Holly Hollingsworth, Vice President at Resolute Consulting and Senior Public Relations Consultant at AT&T Ohio Patti Hassler, Vice President of Communications and Outreach, Children’s Defense Fund Victor Neufeld, Executive Producer, Fenton Communications, former Executive Producer, ABC News 20/20

Expert media trainers will provide an interactive basic media training session for interviews conducted in all media platforms. Learn why preparation is the key component for controlling an interview, how to make your message cut through and ensure that your answers are better than the interviewer’s questions.