Working with the Media

A common sense guide and training program for communities taking action to address drug-related issues.

A common sense guide to ‘Working with the Media’ has been developed for Community Drug Action Teams and non-government organisations that are members of the Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies (NADA).

'Working with the Media' is available at the bottom of this page. It is available for you to open, download and use for your Community Drug Action Team or organisation. To open the guide, you will need Acrobat Reader. If you don't have this program you can download it from the Adobe site.

While the guide focuses primarily on print, radio and TV, it acknowledges that the media is changing and goes beyond these traditional forms. The guide encourages the use of other communication tools like the internet, popular culture media, theatre, newsletters and other art forms to get key messages across about drugs and drug use.

‘Working with the Media’ outlines:

• the role of the media and how it works
• examples of what is ‘news’ and how to present stories in a way that is ‘newsworthy’
• tips on how to respond when approached by the media
• tips on how to contact the media and promote your story or event and
• steps to establishing a media policy or strategy for your organisation or CDAT.

The guide has been developed as part of a Media Project in response to the NSW Drug Summit recommendations.

To support the guide, a statewide program of media workshops for Community Drug Action Teams, non-government organisations and their local media was delivered.

Workshops were held in:

• Mudgee - Friday 1 March 2002
• Wollongong - Thursday 7 March 2002
• Coffs Harbour - Monday 11 March 2002
• Lismore - Tuesday 12 March 2002
• Bingara - Thursday 14 March 2002
• Blacktown - Wednesday 17 April 2002
• Ettalong - Wednesday 17 April 2002
• Maitland - Thursday 18 April 2002
• Albury - Monday 22 April 2002
• Wagga Wagga - Tuesday 23 April 2002
• Queanbeyan - Tuesday 23 April 2002
• Ourimbah, Central Coast - Monday 28 October 2002
• Maitland - Tuesday 29 October 2002
• Redfern - Wednesday 30 October 2002
• Fairfield - Thursday 31 October 2002.

The Australian Drug Foundation, in conjunction with the Macarthur Drug and Alcohol Youth Project, Ted Noffs Foundation and Centre for Youth Drug Studies, undertook the project.

Following on from Drug Action Week 2002, a media award was presented as part of the Ted Noffs Awards. The purpose of the award is to encourage journalists and media outlets to provide accurate and informative coverage of alcohol and other drug issues.

Follow this link to download free 'Acrobat Reader from Adobe'. You will need it to open PDF files.