Now is a great time to start planning early for the next National Radon Action Month— in January 2015. By planning your media campaign early and getting a head start on developing outreach materials, you will be in excellent shape to launch a great campaign in six months and raise radon awareness throughout your state during next year’s National Radon Action Month.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) developed a highly successful multi-media approach in 2014. KDHE used press releases, You Tube, Twitter and pre-packaged public service announcements to achieve broad social media, television and newspaper coverage. Using their example, other state health departments can design outreach programs to raise awareness statewide.
Using a variety of media outlets and methods, Kansas has shown how radon risk awareness can be broadcast state-wide. With some advance planning, you can also create a wide-reaching and highly successful media campaign for your state for the next National Radon Action Month in January 2015. So start planning now!
Key steps to KDHE’s successful media campaign included:
1.) Issuing press releases;
2.) Contracting with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to air public service announcements;
3.) Identifying speakers who may be interviewed;
4.) Developing videos for YouTube;
5.) Using stock public service announcements; and
6.) Communicating via live Twitter Chat.
Below, see a detailed explanation of the steps, as well as some examples of articles and videos from Kansas during National Radon Action Month, 2014. With all materials developed for this campaign, simple and clear messaging about radon awareness was the goal.
1.) Issue Press Releases
Newspaper articles and television promotions included markets in Topeka, Wichita, Kansas City, Manhattan, Ottawa, Leavenworth and others cities and counties. For example, the Topeka Capital-Journal published an article about the Governor’s Proclamation and the free test kit promotion:
KAKE (ABC channel out of Wichita) posted a story on their website regarding the radon test kit promotion:
http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Kansas-to-offer-free-radon-testing-kits-
236784921.htm
2.) Contact Broadcasters Association
The Kansas Radon Program contracted with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters who aired Public Service Announcements about radon on television and radio across the state during Radon Action Month and through mid-March.
3.) Provide a List of Speakers
Develop a list of qualified speakers who may be contacted for interviews by journalists.
4.) Develop Videos
KDHE created a video about radon that was posted on the “KDHEChannel” of You-Tube as part of the series of informational videos called “The Dispatch.” This video can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3f4GdLp2lg&list=UUcQTBgg53mE9mhcFq
jCNkIg&feature=c4-overview
5.) Use Stock Public Service Announcements
On the department website, suggested public service announcements were made available at http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/radon.htm#psa
6.) Communicate Via Live Twitter Chat
KDHE hosted a Live Twitter chat to discuss radon topics. Approximately 50 Tweets were sent out by KDHE during the hour, and many were re-tweeted by partner organizations or individuals and several questions were received and answered through Twitter during the hour as well. In addition to the live event, throughout the month KDHE posted radon information to both their Twitter account and their Facebook homepage.
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