Resource Media

Engaging new constituencies in support of land and water protection in the West is crucial if conservation organizations are to achieve their goals. Media that reaches these constituencies is an important component of this work. This tie-off grant to Resource Media would support their efforts to build support among Latino and outdoor user audiences through communications outreach.

Resource Media provides expert strategic communications advice to conservation organizations around the West. As a result of a recent organizational evaluation and the hiring of a new executive director, the organization is evolving from providing advice to engaging directly in strategic communications advocacy. This grant would support Resource Media’s new direction, allowing it to join a coalition of other grantees that work to limit the impact of fossil energy development on public lands. The coalition seeks to raise awareness among varied constituencies about fossil energy’s impacts on human health, wildlife, and water in the West. The coalition’s goal is to ensure that sensitive public lands and rivers are not developed and that human health is protected.

To support the planning and initial launch phase of StoryDrive Resource Media provides communications strategies and media services to NGOs working to protect communities, public health, and the environment. They work with targeted NGOs to improve their communications strategies and media outreach activities; help execute their strategies; and identify messages and messengers for energy, coal, fossil fuel, and renewable energy projects under way in the West. Resource Media is at an important point in its organizational development. Communications strategies and methods have changed significantly since the organization’s founding but it has not kept up adequately. The board hired a new executive director in September 2012 who has a clear vision for delivering more effective communications on energy and natural resource protection issues. This grant would provide funds for the organization to implement current programs for six months while completing a plan for a way to implement the vision laid out by the new director. If the plan is compelling, we would consider recommending renewed support in July 2013. If not, we would tie off support.