Community Crime Prevention Guide
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Develop a Community Crime Prevention Action Plan
Involve the Media
The media is an important crime prevention partner. For most of the public, the media is their only source of information about the criminal justice system. Their perceptions and attitudes are shaped by what they hear, read and see. Media can help promote your crime prevention efforts and they can help you deliver important messages related to community safety.
To gain community-wide support, you may want to develop a communications strategy. Communication tools to consider include:
- print publications,
- posters,
- newsletters,
- flyers,
- banners or other signage,
- community events,
- radio and/or television,
- computer bulletin boards, blogs and online news services,
- e-mail, and
- word of mouth or networking.
From the outset, it is essential to determine exactly what you want to say. Do you want to increase public awareness of community safety issues and concerns? Do you want to raise the profile of a particular project? Do you want to obtain donations of time, money or services?
It is equally essential to understand what the media wants and needs. Understanding deadlines for time-sensitive stories is important. Establishing a long-term relationship also has its benefits. Media outlets can provide advice on how you can get your stories printed or broadcast. You can help them develop personal feature stories about crime-related topics. You may even want to consider inviting media owners and managers to participate as members of your project team or to serve as resource people for your project.
Useful Tools
The Safe Communities Kit
: Produced by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Safe Communities contains a useful guide called Working with the Media. It contains practical information on how to prepare for an interview with the media and how to prepare news releases. The guide also includes several templates for writing media advisories.
Dealing with the Media: This toolbox of resources on working with the media covers the following topics:
- Steps to Getting the Most Out of the Media
- Developing a Media Resource Inventory
- Media Opportunities
- Alternative Marketing Strategies
- Checklist for Media Campaigns
- During a Crisis: 10 Most Important Rules
- Tips for Handling Reporters
- What do the Media Want?
- Dealing with journalists
- Being Interviewed
- Press Conferences and releases
- How a Story Gets into the News
- Newspapers: The Black and White on Getting into Print
- Maximize your Media Exposure and Minimize your Risk
- Tips for Dealing with the Media
- Make Sure Your Message is Heard
- Publicity Do's and Don'ts
- The Media Rules
- Open, Honest Communication
- How to Speak so That People Will Listen
- How to Plan Press Releases
- The Care and Feeding of the media
- Packaging Information for the Media
