Writing Your Communications Plan

About the Course

Communicating your message effectively is essential if you are going to convince people that you deserve their vote. In this course, you will plan how to use the communication tools available to you to get your message to the right people at the right time.

When to Take This Course

You should take this course after taking Crafting Your Message and Digital 101. This is the last course in the Messaging & Communications course track. Because you want to communicate effectively from day one and start building relationships with the media, we encourage you to finish this track prior to launching your campaign, or as early in your campaign as possible.

Take Aways

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Build relationships and communicate with media
• Target the right messages to the right people on the right platforms
• Schedule campaign communications & build a communications calendar
• Determine what paid media are right for your campaign

By the end of this course, you will have these resources for your campaign:

• Your Media List
• A Template Press Release
• A Template Press Advisory
• A Sample & Template Communications Plan, including a Communications Calendar
• Interview Preparation Worksheet
• Assessing Paid Media Worksheet

Sign up and enroll in this course to begin!

Course Instructor

Linara Davidson Instructor

Public Relations & Political Consultant Linara Davidson is the Managing Director for Development and External affairs at East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) where she is responsible for raising $7 million of the operating budget, building relationships and working with media. She comes to EHTP from the public relations and government sector, and is currently an adjunct instructor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She recently worked for Hillary for America. Prior to that, Linara worked as a Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations in their Corporate Group. She also served in New York City government for nine years in various capacities, and in 2012, was recognized by City & State as one of the city’s top 40 under 40 Political Rising Stars. Linara served on the Board of Trustees for the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine for eight years; Advocates for Youth for six years; and is currently on a board member for the National Black Theatre. Linara received her MPA at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is a graduate of New York University where she holds a B.S. in Humanities.