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Messaging and comms

There are two types of communication you may need to consider. Internal comms are those that are between rebels, making sure everyone has the information they need including potential participants. External comms are those to the wider public, for example on social media and through the press.

Call to action

A call to action is critical particularly for mass participation actions. With your team, think about the narrative behind the action. What will get people excited and wanting to take part?

This call to action can be communicated through appropriately secure channels such as Signal chats or emails through Action Network. Or it could be through a recruitment meeting to get people excited and thinking about what role they might take. We want it to be as quick and easy as possible for new people to join us at actions.

  • Keep it local - An outreach talk about the actions happening in your area
  • Make it personal - Invite rebels to sign up to the action. If you can, phone them in advance, explain the plan and ask what they’d need to come e.g. info on legal rights, risk, toilets, access etc

Ten committed new people joining your next action is worth so much more than a thousand sitting on a mailing list!

It’s useful to provide a document with relevant links and articles to participants so they can inform themselves of an issue and understand the talking points. Particularly if they are providing quotes or speaking to a camera.

Comunicating with the team

You will need to decide which tools to use for your coordination group and which tools for the wider attendees. Guidance on this kind of 'internal comms' is here

Do you need to appoint an M&M link or someone who will hold the tasks relating to M&M. Establish how the team and link roles will communicate. Is that through attending a weekly meeting? Will they stay updated via a chat? Does someone from the planning team need to attend another circle or sit in another chat?

A document with top line info that can be kept up-to-date and shared easily is very helpful to cut out unnecessary questions & confusion.

Information for participants

If it is an XRUK action you may have support from XRUK M&M (Media and Messaging). See 'How to get your content promoted by XRUK'. They can provide guidance on what comms are appropriate and may help develop messaging. Be aware this may lengthen the process as they will need to plan the work and have processes in place. So link up with them as early as possible to find out deadlines and agree the messaging. (Note: M&M will advise you on the messaging so it’s best to be prepared to compromise so you can reach an agreement as quickly as possible). This may effect art assets, for example banners so get this sorted before making or commissioning anything else.

For all actions:

  • Remember to add the event to the Movement Calendar and hence the Actions Map. This should include specific meeting point details, and a way to contact you for further details. Even better, get people to register via Action Network so we capture potential new rebels.
    It is a very good idea to check that your action is displaying correctly on the map and that the links work.

  • Ensure you have a plan for who you are hoping will get involved and how are you going to communicate with them.

    • For closed (secure) elements, this is likely to be a signal chat with those who have roles. It’s best to separate those who are at higher risk of arrest from those who are not, to protect them.

    • For open (public) actions or actions which have both open and closed elements, you may want to set up a telegram channel so you can communicate relevant info and get everyone excited about the action. Advertise this in other relevant chats.

    • You can also put out information about the action on social media or via email on Action Network.

    • sAppointAppoint at least 3 admin and keep on top of messages, replying to questions and keeping the vibe going. If you’re planning anything that could risk arrest (including conspiracy) make sure admins are anonymous (via the settings). If you are seen as organisers you may put a target on your back for arrest.

Action messaging

The messaging for your action will be conveyed through different means and needs to take different formats such as banners, flyers, press releases, socials and interviews, and this needs to be agreed before art assets are made/commissioned, and media messages are prepared. This is covered in more detail under Vibe and creatives.

For some actions, you might also want a letter to your target? An op-ed? A petition?

Information on 'how to plan media' is here.

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