Blogging for Social Justice SARAH GREENBERG, SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT JUNE 18, 2015

How do blogs fit into your social justice work? Blogs are somewhere between Op-Eds and posts on social media.

What makes blogging different? They are: ◦Short(er) than Op-Eds, longer than tweets or Facebook posts ◦300 – 600 words ◦Personal ◦They capture your unique voice and perspective ◦Relatively informal ◦They are easily digestible and shareable

Ten Commandments of Blogging for Social Justice

1.Thou shalt write concisely 2.Thou shalt be timely in thy writing 3.Thou shalt be aware of thy audience 4.Thou shalt write in thy own voice, in balance with the institutional voice 5.Thou shalt always include a Jewish perspective 6.Thou shalt never assume a knowledge level 7.Thou shalt use hyperlinks 8.Thou shalt think strategically about which sources, surveys and other data thou art presenting 9.Thou shalt always provide an action step 10.Thou shalt have fun!

Nuts and Bolts When you’re submitting a blog for review, make sure to include the following: ◦A title – a phrase that encompasses the main point of the blog, or that teases the content ◦Your preferred byline ◦A short bio ◦Suggestions for a featured image, with the source (if it’s not a picture of you)

Structuring Your Blog: Example 1 ◦Title ◦~400 word blog ◦Hook – newsworthy, morality already present ◦Explains the legislative/policy angle ◦Jewish connection reinforced via citing text ◦Action step at the end

Structuring Your Blog: Example 2 ◦Title ◦Uniquely long blog: ~700 words ◦Hook – news story, personal connection ◦Personal story or reflection ◦Information about the issue ◦Jewish values/text ◦Action item ◦Reinforcing Jewish perspective ◦Further information

Questions?

Writing Your Own Blog