Editorial Boards as Tools for Change in the Campaign for Healthy Kids

1. Editorial Board Visits as Tools for Change
in the Campaign for Healthy Kids
To hear the audio, call-in: 866 740 1260
audio 866.740.1260
Access Code: 3399042
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

2. Welcome to the Web Conference
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Access Code: 3399042
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3. Who is listening with you now
now…
Parents, doctors, health experts involved with
the
Texas Campaign for Healthy Kids editorial
board tour
Hogg Mental Health Policy Academy
members
b
Texans Care for Children members
Partnership for a Healthy Texas members

4. Today’s Presenters
Christine Sinatra Michelle Smith
Texans Care for Children Partnership for a Healthy Texas
Communications Director Steering Committee Member
Assisting with chat questions: Lauren Dimitry, Texans Care for Children

5. Agenda
Editorial Board Basics
Changing the Wa Your Issue Gets Discussed
Way
Tips for a Successful Ed Board Visit
Case study: The Campaign for Healthy Kids
Q&A
Q A

6. Editorial Board Basics

7. Anatomy of an Opinion Page
EDITORIAL LETTERS TO
• NO byline THE EDITOR
•Top • Short
placement messages
• Close to • Usually by
masthead local
residents
MASTHEAD OP-EDS
Tells you who is • Author is noted
on the editorial • Contributor
board may be local

8. So what is an editorial board visit?
Meeting arranged by community members
Goal: An editorial in support of your position
Chance to convince opinion editor + other
editorial board members, columnists, and beat
, ,
reporters
Opportunity to make a pitch + answer
questions

9. “In 2010, are visits to newspapers
In
really relevant?”

10. 5 reasons to visit your ed board now
1. Editorials influence the public.
di i l i fl h bli
2. Editorials influence policymakers themselves.
3. Help papers decide what to champion in 2011.
4 Your credibility as a local expert is needed
4. needed.
5. Without you, what gets said instead?

11. Change the way
your issue gets discussed

12. Where we are now
Wh
“Nothing works” • Good programs/ p
p g policies aren’t
discussed; government = political
bickering
“Bad
“B d parents”
t ” • When something bad is happening
with children, it’s all parents’ fault
No connection to
community • Default thinking = children in a
“Family Bubble”
Big picture obscured
• Li it d understanding of public
Limited d t di f bli
structures’ role, especially for
children
-- Source:Topos Partnership

13. Language can help change the way
g g p g y
your issue gets understood
“Doctors and researchers have found that
the community where a person lives is one
of the main factors in whether a child will
become obese. The good news is: in
neighborhoods where kids have good
nutrition and more opportunities to
exercise,
exercise children stay healthier do better
healthier,
in school, and are less likely to get into
trouble.”
.

14. Things to keep in mind
DO DON’T
• Highlight policies that Make your case with
have worked data and statistics alone
• Talk about children Say things that trigger
using a “future frame” traps about “bad
parents
parents” or “ineffectual
ineffectual
•M k ab i
Make business case
government”
(e.g., the big-picture
costs of budget cuts or
g
of doing nothing)

15. Tips for a Successful Visit

16. Four steps in editorial board visits
1.Arrange the meeting.
g g
2.Prepare for the meeting.
3 Present at the meeting
3. meeting.
4.Follow up.

17. 1. Arrange the meeting
Recruit a small group (3 or fewer) to represent
different perspectives on your issue
Send a pitch email or issue to the editorial
page editor
Follow up with a call to schedule a meeting

18. 2. Prepare for the meeting
Find out the basics from the paper: parking,
amount of time you’ll have, who is attending.
Read up on what the paper has written before.
Prepare a 10-15 minute overview of your issue.
Have press packets with b k
H k t ith background i f
d info
ready.
Practice answering tough questions clearly
questions—clearly,
succinctly, calmly.

19. 3. The meeting itself!
• Do introductions and make your presentation.
• Acceptable response: “I don’t know, but will
get back to you.”
• DON’T leave without making your ask
regarding the editorial you would like run.
• If you get a no, ask about an op-ed.
• Thank the board for hearing
Th k th b d f h i you out and t d
reiterate items you will be following up with
them on
on.

20. 4. Follow up.
• Address any pending issues
• Send a thank you letter
• If asked to, send an op-ed
• Call if you don’t see the placement when you
expected to

21. Questions?

22. Partnership for
Partnership for
A Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity
Conquering Obesity
Michelle Smith
Steering Committee
Past Chair

23. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity
C i Ob i
Mission: To develop and promote policies
Mission: To develop and promote policies
that prevent obesity in Texas
Guiding Principles:
Guiding Principles:
Encourage collaboration among all
interested parties in reducing obesity
Inform policy makers about the
f l k b h
consequences of the disease
Promote evidence‐based strategies at
g
multiple levels: individual, family and
l l l l l f l
community
Serve as a resource for individuals and
entities interested in addressing obesity
prevention

24. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity ‐‐ M b hi
C i Ob i Membership
• Sustainable Food Center University of North Texas Health Science
• AARP • Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health Center
• Active Life • Texas Academy of Family Physicians University of Texas at Austin
• American Cancer Society • Texas Action for Healthy Kids
• American Diabetes Association • Texas Association for Health, Physical Advisors:
• American Heart Association Education, Recreation and Dance Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas • Texas Association of Health Plans Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Center for Public Policy Priorities • Texas Association of Local Health Officials Michael & Susan Dell Center for
• Children at Risk • Texas Association for School Nutrition Advancement of Healthy Living
• Children’s Hospital Association of Texas • Texas Bicycle Coalition Senate Committee on Health & Human
• Children s Medical Center Dallas
Children’s Medical Center Dallas • Texans Care for Children
Texans Care for Children Services
• The Cooper Institute • Texas Diabetes Program/Council Texas Department of Agriculture
• East Texas AHEC • Texas Dietetic Association Texas Department of State Health Services
• Harris County Public Health and • Texas Health Institute Texas Department of Transportation
Environmental Services • Texas IMPACT Texas Education Agency
• Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South • Texas Medical Association Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas • Texas Oral Health Coalition USDA Food and Nutrition Service
d d
• National Federation of Independent • Texas Orthopaedic Association
Business
• Texas Pediatric Society
• National Wildlife Federation
• Texas PTA
• Scott and White Memorial Hospital,
Temple Texas School Health Association
• Secondary and Elementary Texas School N
T S h l Nurses O Organization
i ti
Administrators for Health, Physical Trans Texas Alliance
Education, Recreation and Dance University Interscholastic League

25. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – Hi
C i Ob i History
August September 2006
August‐September 2006
• Following independent advocacy and an obesity‐focused
policy forum, advocates express interest in collaboration
and the Partnership was formed
October –December 2006
• Partnership develops interim study recommendations for
the Senate and House health committees
• Six legislative priorities identified for 2007 session (80th Leg)
• Partnership hosts Dec briefing for leg staff
80th L i l t
Legislature – 2007
• Six legislative priorities comprise legislative agenda
• Components of all six priorities rolled into legislation and
passed

26. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – Hi
C i Ob i History
Summer 2007
• Strategic planning session focuses on future goals and
composition of the Partnership
March‐fall 2008
• Partnership collaborates on interim study
recommendations for the Senate and House health
recommendations for the Senate and House health
committees
• Legislative priorities identified under 6 broad goals for the
2009 session (81st Leg)
81st Legislature – 2009
• Multiple legislative priorities corralled into 6 broad goals
• Components of all priorities rolled into legislation and
passed

27. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – P
C i Ob it Preparing for 2011
i f 2011
Spring 2010
• Partnership awarded Save the Children grant
• Membership meets to identify and prioritize legislative priorities
Summer‐September 2010
• Partnership Steering and Legislative Committees meet and produce
draft priority document
• Draft document shared with membership
Fall 2010
• Statewide editorial board tour planned to promote priorities
• Two legislative briefings for key legislative staff planned
January 2011
• Legislative briefing focused on Partnership priorities planned for
parents/community advocates
• Legislative visits to take place post‐briefing

28. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
School Health
School Health
Improve school health and increase accountability by:
Physical Education and Physical Activity
• Require school districts to report de‐identified, individual
FitnessGram data to TEA allowing the Agency to accurately
correlate fitness data with academic data, and make that
data available to parents. (SB 226)
• Implement national standards for physical education
including minutes per week, class size and certified
teachers for grades K‐12. (SB 185)
• Prohibit schools from withholding physical activity, PE or
recess time as a consequence for classroom behavior or
academic remediation.

29. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
School Health
School Health
Improve school health and increase accountability by:
Health Education
• Make health education a requirement for high school graduation. (SB
q g g (
186)
Accountability
• Require that yearly SHAC reports to school boards include information
on how campuses have incorporated coordinated school health into
their campus improvement plans. (SB 225)
• Recognize schools that are meeting and exceeding minimum
standards for implementing coordinated school health (SB 224)
health.
School Nutrition
• Maximize opportunities to improve the Texas school nutrition
pp p
environment through the federal Child Nutrition Act reauthorization.

30. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
Built Environment
Built Environment
Support physical activity in the community environment
by supporting “complete streets” policies to encourage
walking and bicycling for health, transportation and
lk db l f h lh d
recreation.

31. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
Early Childhood
Early Childhood
Improve nutrition and physical activity in early childhood
programs, including support for following current Dietary
Guidelines for Americans in childcare settings.
d l f h ld

32. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
Food Access
Food Access
Improve access to healthy foods.
• Improve access to farmer’s markets and other retailers
offering fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Strengthen farm to school linkages.

33. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – 2011 A
C i Ob it 2011 Agenda d
Curbing Obesity’s Cost
Curbing Obesity’s Cost
Support essential funding to reduce the spread of obesity
including its related chronic diseases, and raise
awareness about nutrition, healthy living, and physical
b h lh l d h l
activity.
• Identify and maximize funding that promotes a healthier
Texas, curbs consumption of unhealthy products,
reduces the obesity‐related health costs that get passed
on to taxpayers and businesses, and reaps future savings
for Texas.
• Fund existing obesity prevention initiatives, including
coordinated school health and the Texas School Health
Network.

34. Partnership for a Healthy Texas:
Conquering Obesity – F M
C i Ob it For More Information
I f ti
Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith
Partnership Steering Committee Chair
512/873‐0322
michellesmith@mac.com
i h ll ith@
Partnership for a Healthy Texas Website
www.partnershipforahealthytexas.org
Texas Health Institute
8501 N. MoPac Expressway, Suite 420
Austin, Texas 78759
(512) 279‐3905

35. Get Involved!
www.partnershipforahealthytexas.org
www partnershipforahealthytexas org
www.txchildren.org
Christine Sinatra csinatra@txchildren.org (512) 473-2274