At Sightline, we know that words, language, stories, and images matter. However the data stack up, a smart solution is only as persuasive as our ability to convey why it matters.
All our ideas, research, and analysis has a better chance of survival—and success—when we package it in savvy communications and good storytelling, connecting policy to people’s lives, striking an emotional chord, and reinforcing our shared values.
We dig through piles of academic research, polling data, and expert analysis to distill best practices into tools to help you do your work toward equity and sustainability.
Here are some of our strategic messaging resources—Flashcards—from the past year; talking points that take you from climate change and clean energy solutions through tips for building grassroots political power and onward to housing and democracy solutions. Enjoy reading and thank you for putting our messaging tools to work for good!
1. Wisdom for Talking to Kids About Climate Change
Stories, experiences, and wise words from colleagues who are parents as well as water protectors, teachers, scientists, activists, and policy experts.
2. Talking Turkey About the Electoral College
The 2016 election got lots of Americans talking about our democracy. Here are choice quotes to bring to your family gatherings.
3. Six Tips for Talking Housing Affordability Solutions
In a nutshell, we give you our top messaging takeaways from Sightline’s audit and analysis of media coverage of Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA).
Original Sightline Institute graphic, available under our free use policy.
4. Five Secrets of the Tea Party’s Success
Today, more than ever, we need strategies to channel political energy (a.k.a. fear, anger) toward satisfying and effective action. Here’s how the Tea Party supercharged their grassroots (and how you can, too).
5. Money is Breaking Our Democracy. So, Now What?
How do we talk about democracy solutions so that people feel empowered and inspired? Here are messages to move Americans from cynicism to action.
6. Video: 3 Climate Messages That Win
A quick video explainer shows how you can use three top-performing messages that, together, build support for global warming solutions.
7. Looking for Better Climate Photos? Help Is Here
A guide to the best pictures to capture emotions and spur action—and an extensive photo library to mine! (Hint: At ClimateVisuals.org, polar bears are out, people are in.)
Original image by flickr user 10:10, built on by Sightline Institute under a creative commons license with research from Climate Visuals.
