Reclaim Our Democracy
Reclaim Our Democracy is an inclusive collaborative multi-partisan movement to limit and control the corrupting influence of money on elections and politicians. Our goal is to reclaim our democratic rights as citizens of the United States of America to have a government that truly represents and supports the needs and desires of all people.
Reclaim Our Democracy

Breakout – Digital Messaging and Organizing

Citizen-Driven Media Messaging and Digital Organizing

Digital Media

  • Build a community around your brand. ReclaimtheAmericanDream.org is a good website for drawing people in.
  • Focus on the messaging of what you are about; keep it simple / easy to understand; don’t confuse it with multiple ideas; be aspirational; visually striking images and striking 4-5 word messages; for Twitter a simple message from several famous people can be very effective; be creative; talk about the future – what legacy are we leaving for the next generation; tug at the heart using very cute and clever pictures; corruption is a poor frame for drawing people in; go to bit.ly/rethinkmip and moneyinpolitics.us and wiuta.org for help with messaging
  • You need to get people’s interest in 3-10 seconds on social media or they will turn off
  • Repetition matters. People need to hear a message 10-15 times before they pay attention.
  • Attract people by getting other organizations to share your message; build relationships with groups that will do this; most things go viral because of large networks
  • Promote events on Facebook and with Twitter hashtags; reporters and people will follow you on Twitter; pull in other community organizers; find a large network and connect one-on-one with influencers
  • Facebook Live is a good way to broadcast events; a large audience can watch on-line; can write in questions; can record the event and people can watch it at a later date; very easy to use – basically stand in front of an iPhone

In-person Presentations

  • Understand the audience. Go into the room and listen to find out where you are and what the person/people you are talking to thinks. Start conversations – what do you think about money in politics?
  • The messenger matters. Content is not as important as the ability to connect with the audience. Find a shared value/experience with your audience and they will trust you more.
  • Use messages that cut to the core – not statistics. Go into shared principles – what it means to be a member of the Republic. “I keep hearing from other people…”
  • House parties can be a good way to get people together. Can share pictures on social media – my neighbor is supporting this.
  • Video screenings can also be effective. Hedrick Smith’s The People vs. the Politicians video will be on MSNBC this summer – 6 stories, 6 states, 6 rebellions.