GLAAD Presents a Media Monitoring and Mobilization Training

Paul Karr, Director of Media Field Strategy, and I, just finished presenting a session on Rapid Response Communications. The training was part of the leadership academy program, which is a new program of Creating Change this year. The presentation centered on creating local media monitoring teams to monitor and respond to media coverage of LGBT issues. Quick responses to media from local folks go a long way when dealing with problematic and/or defamatory coverage.

The session was great because the media volunteer group we used as an example, the Triangle Media Trackers, was represented in the group of training participants! The Triangle Media Trackers is a group of volunteers who work with GLAAD and the Triangle Foundation. I co-manage the Media Trackers with Dawn Wolfe, Director of Communications at the Triangle Foundation. Dawn was able to attend the session and lend her expertise and Media Tracker volunteer Grant Gellert was also a participant in the workshop.

One of the great things about Creating Change is that I’m able to meet with folks like Dawn and Grant, with whom I work with a lot via e-mail and the phone. I’m looking forward to meeting with the rest of the Media Trackers at our reception tomorrow!

Sarah Kennedy is GLAAD’s Central Media Field Strategist