Resource Center :
Strategy :
Strategy
This section provides advice and guidance on various strategies and tools that information advocates can use to fight against government secrecy and contains stories about lessons learned from other advocates.
Have we missed an important strategy or advocacy tool? Feel free to email us with your recommendation with a short explanation and any links or supporting documents for review by our staff.
Advocacy Basics Want to fight government secrecy and advocate for an open and accountable government but don't know how to start? This section provides you with information on how to use the basic tools of advocacy -- lobby visits, action letters and talking points.
Media Coverage
Understanding the fundamentals of how and when to write a press release, how to hold successful press events and tips on how to talk to the media are included in this section.
Long-term Strategies
Often longer-term efforts to influence policy development or government direction require more developed strategies to properly organize advocacy activities. This section will help guide advocates in developing a long-term plan, message development and coalition building. These plans should not be stagnant and unchangeable. Revisiting and updating your long-term strategies based changing circumstances should be expected.
Getting & Using Information
Hiding in plain sight is one of the most effective strategies to advocate for access to government information--obtaining information under the current access policies and then making use of that information. By regularly exercising our right-to-know can we send a clear message to policy-makers that access is needed and useful to the public. There are several avenues available to obtain government information, including Government websites, Freedom of Information Act requests, and reading rooms. Once you have the information you have been looking for it is important to close the circle and use the information.
