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100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. Media Tool Kit

Welcome to the Law Enforcement Media Tool Kit for “100 Days of Summer HEAT”. Included in this section you will find all the basic materials you need to advertise, explain and support the major highway safety enforcement activities scheduled in Georgia this summer. These lifesaving initiatives are coordinated by the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), and the state and local law enforcement agencies in your community.

The GOHS Public Affairs Office has compiled a set of media materials for each of the campaigns, starting with:

• “100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T.” summer-long speed and aggressive driving campaign;

• “Click It or Ticket” Memorial Day safety belt campaign;

• “Operation Zero Tolerance” July 4 th impaired driving campaign;

• “Operation Zero Tolerance” Labor Day impaired driving campaign;

• “Hands Across the Border” intrastate traffic law enforcement campaign.

Please understand, this material is provided to save you time as you contact your local news media before, during and after your enforcement campaigns. That means as we progress through the schedule of summer initiatives, you may use all or part of any of these documents to advertise your highway safety message the way you think will work best in your community.

In this MEDIA TOOL KIT , you will find a News Release, Media Advisory, and Sample Letter to the Editor for almost every major campaign. If you decide to have a news conference, the News Release should be sent out in advance, listing the time and location of your news conference. Notification of media at least three working days before any event is a good rule-of-thumb. Follow-up with a reminder phone-call to media outlets the night-before and the morning-of, if you want to be assured of coverage.

If you're planning a local road-check or ride-along, fill in the blanks at the end of the Media Advisory with your contact names and numbers for reporters and assignment editors to call. Past experience with your local news media will dictate whether you can entrust news outlets with an advance list of specific local enforcement locations and schedules. Be aware that some media refuse to embargo such information, so the decision to notify news agencies of anything beyond the generic is up to you to maintain operational security.

The Sample Letter to the Editor can be sent out as early as two weeks before your local campaign begins. Public opinion shows residents are much more supportive of highway safety enforcement campaigns as long as they have prior warning. As with the News Releases and Media Advisories provided, you may tailor the Letter to the Editor to your needs by adding or editing . You are the best judge of how much space your local publications will allow.

We're all on the same team, so you may “borrow” the quotes we provided from the GOHS Director, if they meet the needs of your sheriff or chief. You may use the GOHS campaign logos along with those from your own department on News Releases and Media Advisories. Just don't forget to mention your partners at GOHS and the support of law enforcement agencies across the state. The GOHS website address is a handy reference for everyone, so remind the public and the news media to look us up for additional facts and links.

As the “100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T.” campaign continues, we will post enforcement updates, paid media campaign dates, and additional information for you to share with the news media here as well. If you need advice or assistance, please call or e-mail the GOHS Office of Public Affairs. Good luck with your campaigns!

Jim Shuler, Director Public Affairs
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety
One Park Tower
34 Peachtree Street
Suite 800
Atlanta, Ga. 30303
jshuler@gohs.state.ga.us
404-656-6996
404-657-9105