Candidate School Lesson 5: Communications

Amy Morton

February 28, 2018

My name is Louis Elrod. I’m the Political Director at Better Georgia, and since 2008 I have managed campaigns at the local and state level, helping candidates and organizations win progressive victories in a red state. Activists like me have helped a lot of people run for office, and we know there’s a huge amount of information that first-time candidates need to learn quickly. That’s why we put together this six-episode podcast featuring interviews and advice from the best campaign professionals we could find. Stepping up to run is a major undertaking, but we hope that Better Georgia’s Candidate School can make it just a bit easier.

This is Lesson 5: Communications. Listen in to learn how to develop a compelling message, how to get the most out of working with journalists, and best practices of campaign communications.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on iTunes, and be sure to leave us a Rating and Review!

Developing a compelling campaign message isn’t something you whip up in your head the day before you announce your candidacy.” – Liz Flowers

Show Notes:

How much time and effort to put into communications versus other aspects of the campaign
The importance of a solid, compelling message
What voters need from a candidate’s message
Why repetition is key in delivering your campaign
The role of storytelling in your campaign
The do’s and don’t’s of working with journalists
Why it is important to know the media you’re interacting with
What earned media is, and it’s role in your candidacy
When you should hire professional communications staff
The best practices of campaign communications
Louis’s homework to develop your communications strategy

Most people vote with their gut, not with their head.” – Liz Flowers

Listen to the other episodes of Candidate School:

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Liz Flowers:

LinkedIn | Twitter

Effective campaign communications is planned and delivered again and again and again.” – Liz Flowers