Progressive Communications Network

What

The Progressive Communications Network is a programme run by the Comms Hub to support press officers working in groups and organisations that campaign, organise, support and communicate about progressive and diverse issues.

For many of us working in campaigns we’re in a constant battle to get good media coverage for our organisations. Often we work alone or in small teams – and there’s no training or support out there, specifically aimed at helping progressives improve their impact.

The programme consists of:

  • The Progressive Communications Network – a place to connect with others working on communicating progressive stories, to get support and advice from the Comms Hub and each other.  You can apply to join the network here.
  • A one day Press Officer Schools, one for basic training and another for advanced training.
  • Access to our press officer handbook, which we’re developing alongside the training
  • Monthly events featuring speakers from media outlets followed by a social.  These have included Guardian comment editors, and a news editor from the Huffington Post.

The Press Officer School

We run these sessions because for many of us working in campaigns we’re in a constant battle to get good media coverage for our organisations. Often we work alone or in small teams – and there’s no training out there specifically aimed at helping progressives improve their impact.

BASIC TRAINING 

Aimed at progressive press officers from grassroots organisations, who are often unpaid for their work and want to learn basic skills needed to get media coverage for their cause or campaign. This training is for those who are newer to the job or want to refresh their skills.

More information here 

The next of these trainings will be hosted as an online workshop

Applications now closed.

When: Thursday 17th September

Time: 9am to 4pm.

What will we cover?

  • Writing and pitching press releases
  • Ghost writing and pitching comment pieces
  • Building up media contacts
  • How broadcasters work.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Aimed at those who have years of experience looking to develop and fine tune specific skills. Press officers that want to learn more niche press coverage.

What will we cover?

  • How to write an impactful comment piece 
  • How to develop a comms strategy
  • How to use broadcast media to boost campaigns
  • How to us FOIs to pitch stories

The course is being run by NEON. This programme is part of a wider programme to substantially boost progressive communications infrastructure, along with our sister programmes the Progressive Press Officer Network and the Spokesperson Network.

What will you get out of the training?

  • You’ll become part of a new and growing network of progressive press and comms officers
  • You’ll receive a press officer handbook, which we are developing alongside the trainings.
  • You’ll have new insight, skills and ideas on how you can be even better at what you do!

Upcoming training and events

The next Press Officer School will be held on Thursday 17th September (9am to 4pm) as an online workshop. Applications now closed.

FAQ

When is the next Press Officer School? Thursday 17th September. This will be a day long online workshop from 9am to 4pm for people who do media work in grassroots groups, press officers in small organisations, who are new in their role in a big organisation or just need a refresher. Applications now closed. 

How much is the Press Officer School? Between £0-£150 (depending on how much you/your organisation can afford)

Who designed the course? The course is being run by NEON with the help of press officers from some of Britain’s biggest campaigning groups, and grassroots organisations. We’ve collectively booked well over 1,000 TV/Radio bookings on the Spokesperson Network alone.

This programme is part of a wider programme to substantially boost progressive communications infrastructure, along with our other programmes the Spokesperson Network, and the Regional Spokesperson Network.