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Events at the NCSL Spring Forum
April 19-21, 2007
Washington, D.C.

(Read about other Spring Forum events at NCSL's online State Legislatures magazine.)

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Women's Health Across the Lifespan Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee, a small group of legislators from varying backgrounds, reviewed NCSL's Women's Health Across the Lifespan project.  The project, supported by a grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals, allows NCSL to provide women's health resources and education for state legislators.  The committee reviewed NCSL's publications and activities and discussed the best way to communicate information to NCSL constituents.  They also discussed the top women's health issues of the 2007 session and brainstormed ideas for future meeting topics.

Visit the project website.

Friday, April 20, 2007

How to Be a Media Rock Star

Cosponsored with NCSL's Legislative Effectiveness and State Government Committee

Gene Rose, NCSL's co-director of communications, led the audience through an interactive workshop on working with the media, using the rock star Bono of the group U2 as an example.  Gene had nine key tips:

1. Know how the media operates. Understand how a newsroom is structured, the difference between the news and editorial departments and the competition for space.
2. Be accessible.  Understand deadlines, return calls promptly and never be a "dead end."
3. Build relationships.  Provide useful information, involve the media in important events and talk to the media even when there is not an opportunity to have your name in the spotlight.
4. Become THE expert.  Decide what you are passionate about and what you can be the best at, and help the media to understand that issue.
5. Create compelling messages.  You need to be able to see the big picture and talk in sound bites. A media rock star makes every issue into a story that everyone can relate to.
6. Understand that perception is reality. You need to track the public "pulse" and create message that engage people. 
7. Remain cool under pressure.  Grant access to the media even during stressful times. Take credit when credit is due and admit mistakes.
8. Confidently crave the spotlight.  Remember that interactions with the media are presentations, not conversations.
9. Create a brand.  Create an image that identifies you and your message.

View Gene's PowerPoint slides.

( Printer-friendly version. To view PDF files, you must install Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Saturday, April 21, 2007

General Session Breakfast

The Network sponsored the presentation by pollsters Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway.  They are the authors of What Women Really Want: How American Women are Quietly Erasing Political, Racial, Class and Religious Lines to Change the Way We Live.  They discussed what voters think about the major issues of the day - energy policy, immigration, the economy and the war in Iraq - then described what the prevailing public opinion means to state legislators and provided useful tips for how to frame the issues to voters.  While much of their presentations were based on the findings in their book and data they agree upon, Lake provided tips for the Democratic legislators in the room, and Conway addressed some of her remarks to the Republicans.

 Listen to Celinda Lake's presentation.

 Listen to Kellyanne Conway's presentation.