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News & Notes March 2007

Reaching the Public: Newsletters and Newspaper Inserts

Newsletters and newspaper inserts are effective ways to educate the general public on conservation issues. Venango, Crawford, and Monroe Conservation Districts received funding through PACD's Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) mini-grant program for educational newsletter and newspaper inserts. Here are some tips for using these avenues for reaching your target audience.

Newsletters
The Venango Conservationist -
Venango Conservation District developed a quarterly newsletter to announce program information and educate county residents regarding nonpoint source pollution prevention measures.

Advantages of newsletters, learned in the business world:

Newsletters allow you to stay in touch with your target audience and create a loyal readership.
Newsletters let the reader know what services you offer.

Ideas to enliven your newsletter and increase readership:

Use color; if not every issue, once in a while for a special issue.
Add a crossword or other type of puzzle to reinforce terms and concepts.
Give your newsletter a make-over, using instructional websites.
Put your newsletter on your website (PDF format) and let people sign-up to receive copies.

Newspaper Inserts
Example 1:
NPS Pollution Education Outreach Project - Crawford County Conservation District is creating a four-color, full-page, monthly newspaper insert for the Meadville Tribune that is geared toward specific NPS threats and issues.

Advantages of newspaper inserts:

Inserts stand out.
With an insert, you have more space to communicate your message than through an advertisement.
You may be able to target your audience by choosing the zip codes your inserts will go to.
Inserts can be more cost effective than direct mailings.

Suggestions for inserts:

Have your insert included in a mid-week paper. There are usually fewer inserts during the week. Check with your paper for the best days.
Consider inserts in weekly papers - insertion cost may be less than for dailies.

Example 2:
Watershed Awareness Newspaper Insert - Monroe County Conservation District created a four-color, four-page watershed awareness newspaper insert including information on preventing nonpoint source pollution around the home and neighborhood, a watershed map, and a list of watershed organizations.

Think about how your conservation district could use newsletters and newspaper inserts in your county. Then apply for a PACD mini-grant to help with your educational efforts today! For more information, visit the PACD website and click on "Grant Assistance." PACD NPS grants are funded by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Program.

Tips on Creating a Newspaper Insert

From Watershed Specialist Trish Attardo
Monroe County Conservation District

Be clear about your message and brainstorm ways to bring it across effectively.
Partner with anyone who has information relevant to the message and get their input.
Put someone in charge of the design aspect of the project that has the experience and all the tools needed to make it happen (software, graphics, know-how).
If you have a vision for how you'd like your message to be presented, pass it on to the designer as a starting place.
When reviewing the draft, review for content; but, also review for overall appearance and readability - leave plenty of white space to allow the readers' eyes to rest.
Have others review the product in the draft and final stage. It can be difficult to edit your own work.
Ensure that the printer (especially a newspaper) can handle the colors that your designer has chosen, so your insert is visually clear when printed.
Allow plenty of time to complete the project prior to the publication date. Set a due date and develop your timeline backwards from that date. Allow time for revisions and the fact your designer and the printer may need to juggle your project with other projects, especially if you are being provided with an in-kind service.

PACD Staff Changes

Shannon Wehinger, PACD Communications Specialist, and her husband Chuck announced the birth of Vanessa Marie, on February 3, 2007. Vanessa weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. Congratulations to Mom, Dad, and baby Vanessa.

Please join us in welcoming Hannah Smith, Education Specialist with PACD. Hannah comes to PACD with experience in developing and administering grants; providing material support to grantees through research, project design and evaluation; and, developing online and print communications materials. Most recently, Hannah's professional efforts were focused on the growth of Building Inclusive Communities advocacy grants across the state of Pennsylvania. She has a demonstrated commitment to conservation, is a public farm liaison for her brother's rural biodynamic farm and works to support projects that demonstrate effectiveness through positive community & environmental change. Hannah will coordinate the Chesapeake Bay and 319 NPS Educational Mini-grant programs and can be reached at hannah-smith@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 x17.

The PACD also welcomes Jo Bitzer to our staff as temporary Communication Specialist. She assists with the PR/Marketing duties while Shannon is on maternity leave. Before joining PACD, Jo held positions in the Marketing/Communication field in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Being an avid conservationist and recycler, Jo says, "I am excited to put my skills to use for an organization that does something good on behalf of the local environment and the Earth as a whole." She is a volunteer tutor with the Tri-County OIC and actively involved in the local YMCA where she teaches indoor cycling and Pilates. Jo works Monday through Thursday and can be reached at 717-238-7223 x18 or by email, joellen-bitzer@pacd.org.

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