Preparing
For �Interviews
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Housekeeping
Format: Presentation and then time for Q&A
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About Our Speaker
Flannery Winchester
CCL Communications Director
Three Learning Goals
Learn what to say and how to say it
Practice staying on message and being effective
Understand basic pre-interview prep
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Our Agenda
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Pre-interview prep
Developing talking points
CCL’s recommended talking points
Pivoting
Presentation tips
Practice and Q&A
Before the interview
Ask a few questions:
Preparing your message
Talking points
Main messages
High-level. Your main message can be conveyed in one, easy-to-repeat sentence.
Simple. Your main message doesn’t involve long words or complicated explanations.
Sticky. When people have heard your main message, they will remember it.
Supporting messages
We want Congress to pass big, national climate legislation
and our community supports that action
but Congress hasn’t acted yet,
so we’re going to Washington, D.C., to meet with them in person
Practice: Bad, better, best
So, what is Citizens’ Climate Lobby?
We lobby Congress for H.R. 763, a carbon pricing policy (well, specifically, carbon fee and dividend style policy) that basically prices the externalities, or the costs, of burning fossil fuels, and allocates all that revenue back to Americans every month, so it reduces CO2 emissions.
Why doesn’t this answer work well?
Practice: Bad, better, best
So, what is Citizens’ Climate Lobby?
We lobby Congress for climate change legislation, in particular a bill called the Energy Innovation Act, and we’ve had a lot of success so far - 80 cosponsors! We have volunteers all over the country, and we’re nonpartisan, and I just love CCL because I’ve been able to get so involved in something I’m passionate about.
How could this answer be improved?
Practice: Bad, better, best
So, what is Citizens’ Climate Lobby?
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a grassroots nonprofit organization working on climate change. We have more than 190,000 supporters nationwide, organized into local chapters, including our chapter here in [CITY]. We push Congress to pass big, national climate legislation.
What do you notice about this response?
Interview Talking Points
Talking points about CCL
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a grassroots nonprofit organization working on climate change.
We push Congress to take action on climate change. CCL chapters across the country are asking Congress to pass big, national climate legislation.
Note: If the reporter asks follow-up questions about the legislation, use the Energy Innovation Act fact sheet for bill-specific talking points.
We’re nonpartisan. Climate change affects everyone, and we work with anyone who is serious about solving it - that includes both Republicans and Democrats.
Talking points about CCL
Volunteers like us are working all over the country. Citizens’ Climate Lobby has more than 190,000 supporters nationwide, organized into more than 450 local chapters, including our chapter in [CITY].
I’m part of Citizens’ Climate Lobby because…
Talking points about CCL
In our local chapter, we…
Talking points about climate
Climate change is serious. Here in [CITY], it is already impacting us. Here’s how.
There are solutions to it! Congress can pass big, national climate legislation to help address the problem. A carbon fee and dividend bill like the Energy Innovation Act could reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 12 years, while putting money in people’s pockets each month.
Talking points about climate
Climate change is real. Scientists agree that climate change is happening. It’s driven by increased greenhouse gases, which come from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.
Climate change is caused by humans. Scientists tell us those increased greenhouse gases come from human activity: fueling our transportation, powering buildings and homes, creating products, and providing services that we use every day.
Develop your own talking points
Getting your message across
Know how to pivot
When that happens, pivot! Find a thread between the question and your message, and follow it back to your talking points.
Know how to pivot
Q: “I know your group works on climate change, but do you have an opinion on the local plastic bag ban?”
Thread: Shared concern over environmental issues
A: “That policy shows me that our community cares deeply about protecting our environment and our natural resources. As a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, I’ve seen that in my work on climate change. I hope our members of Congress will take action to respond to our community’s concerns about climate and the environment.”
Know how to pivot
Q: “I know your group works on climate change, but do you have an opinion on the local plastic bag ban?”
Thread: Government action on climate/environment
A: “I’m very encouraged to see our local government taking steps to protect our environment. As a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, I’m trying to get the U.S. Congress to take steps on climate and the environment, too! I hope our members of Congress will understand that our community is concerned about these issues and wants action at the national level.”
Know how to pivot
Q: “Some people don’t believe climate change will affect us here. What do you say to them?”
Thread: Local impacts of climate change
A: “Climate change is already affecting us here in [CITY]. We are seeing more days of extreme heat, which is dangerous for people’s health. That will continue to get worse if we don’t take action.”
What not to say
Don’t repeat back something that is incorrect - this is a common mistake.
Don’t give long, complicated, qualified answers.
Don’t argue, raise your voice, or badmouth anyone.
Other tips for live interviews
When you’ve gotten your main message across, it’s okay to stop talking. The reporter will simply ask you another question, and the interview will continue from there.
If possible, squeeze in a closer - when you can sense the interview winding down, try to revisit your main message one last time.
Audio/visual considerations
Practice: Mock interview
Ask your partner:
Time For Questions
Click the Microphone Icon Or *6 If On The Phone
https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics
Share online, with social media, and with your chapter, family and friends!
Thank You!
Flannery Winchester email: flannery@citizensclimate.org
Questions? Ask on CCL Community’s Forums: https://community.citizensclimate.org/forums
www.citizensclimatelobby.org