Print Media

Print Media - in a variety of formats (newletters, newspaper coverage - including articles, letters pages, and advertising-, leaflets) can be used to inform, and feedback about community engagement activities.

Advantages

If a project's printed publicity and information is well targetted and of high quality it can stimulate and encourage more effective community engagement.
Local papers like articles by local people. Getting communities involved in the production of printed information can generate buy-in, improve community relations and be used as part of informal/or formal learning to raise communication and ICT skills.

Disadvantages

Badly produced printed material, whose distribution has been ill-thought out can miss its target audience, and contribute towards apathy and even hostility.
Leaflets whose purpose is unclear often just sit on the shelf as an expensive white elephant.

When to use

Use as a means of keeping a constant flow of information about your activity in your target audience's mind.
Don't forget to use pictures, graphics and quotes to enhance the message you want to convey. Be mindful about unintended messages communicated for example by unfortunate positioning of people, quotes taken out of context and so on.