Policy & Media Issues Ginger Park, MS Kansas Dept of Health & Environment Tobacco Use Prevention Program

Main Topics  Tobacco-free policies Schools Fairs & Rodeos  Tips for Working with the Media  Earned Media Tools

Tobacco-free Policies  Tobacco-free not smoke-free  Working toward policies is not lobbying  Policies help change social norms  Policy changes increase public support of CIA ordinances  Policies can be implemented at schools, fairs, rodeos and businesses

School Grounds Policy  In North Carolina 86 of 115 school districts have 100% tobacco-free school policies  If a tobacco-growing state can do this, so can we!

Strong School Grounds Policy  Prohibits tobacco use on all school grounds and school-owned property 24 hours a day 7 days a week  Covers students, staff and visitors  Includes enforcement  Uses signage to advertise policy.  Offers a cessation program for violators.  Prohibits tobacco industry advertising, marketing and sponsorship on school property, at school functions and in school publications.  Prohibits tobacco-related gear or paraphernalia.

Steps to School Policy  Assess current policy  Find allies to change policy StuCo, health committee, PTO  Draft a new policy  Present to school board  Plan implementation  Communicate policy to school & community  Implement the policy  Conduct on-going advocacy efforts & policy evaluation

Enforcement of School Policy Visitors  Inform community through newspaper, newsletters, Web sites, signs on school grounds  Present policy in positive light  Gentle reminder to visitors  Policy reminder cards that can be handed to a visitor who is violating the policy  Encourage members of student organizations, PTO, & other groups to remind spectators of the policy  Visibility of law enforcement at events

Tobacco-Free Fairs & Rodeos  First steps are to work for a tobacco-free day  NASCAR removed the Winston Cup!  Start by reviewing current fair policies and local rodeo sponsorship guidelines  Find allies 4-H, Boys and Girl Scouts, others

Tobacco-Free Fairs & Rodeos  Schedule a meeting with the fair board or rodeo organization  Before the meeting organize your arguments and people  Have kids help present  Present your idea – have a draft policy ready

Earned Media  Free Media coverage  Valuable!  News stories  Editorials  Letters to the Editor  Public Service Announcements  Web sites

Working With the Media  Reporters are looking for stories  You are helping them  Send them information with news value  “Good News” is often appealing  Being informed, friendly and concise is key

When Reporters Call You  Return calls quickly  Find out their deadline  Find out what info. they need and call them back Take a few minutes to gather your thoughts  OK to say “I don’t know”  Don’t try to wing it

Letters to the Editor  Can be written by anyone  This is the place for opinion  Organize different people to send letters  Give them the topic and a few points to stress  Could organize a campaign to send a different letter weekly

Key Points  Policies make a difference  Youth can have a big influence  Fairs & Rodeos – start with a tobacco-free day  Media can help spread the word and increase public support  Media need you

Resources  TUPP staff      