Media Relations Plan

Volunteers will create a strategic plan to change Haiti's negative narrative and showcase positive work. The plan will include traditional media outlets such as TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines, with social media as a supplementary tool. The goal is to shed a positive light on Haiti, increase awareness of our programs, and generate partnerships and financial support.

Our objectives are to:
1) Develop a media plan that nurtures interest and awareness of our work, independent of crisis moments. We want to be a source of "good news" about Haiti and its people.
2) Identify specific skill-based roles required to execute the plan and recruit volunteers who want to make a transformational change for families in extreme poverty.

The media relations plan will deliver the following:
• Educate Hope for Haitians staff about media relations
• Identify media-friendly messaging about the work of Hope for Haitians
• Enhance the existing list of media contacts
• Develop and execute a plan for media engagement
• Establish a timely process for press releases and other materials for media outlets
• Identify necessary skill sets for long-term implementation
• Assist in creating clear role descriptions for volunteers

Currently, news from Haiti mostly focuses on poverty, unrest, gangs, crisis, or disaster. By highlighting the good work happening in Haiti, we aim to show the possibility of a brighter future for the Haitian people. Hope for Haitians has received some coverage in the past, but mostly during crisis moments. We want to develop a media plan that will proactively engage with media to showcase positive improvements in Haiti and create a long-term impact.

With only 1.5 staff members, volunteers are crucial to Hope for Haitians. Over 40 volunteers in Haiti and 25 in the US serve in leadership, community development, board membership, fundraising, and event planning. Volunteers help raise funds, communicate the organization's work, measure its impact, and plan projects for maximum effect in Haiti.

The Executive Director is the primary point of contact and can easily provide access to information, images, staff, board, volunteers, and Haiti contacts. Slack and Trello accounts are in place for managing project communication, with Microsoft Teams and Zoom available for virtual meetings.

We are ideally looking for someone who can dedicate 3-5 hours per week, with the strategy development phase taking between 6-9 weeks. The implementation of the strategic plan will be ongoing, and if necessary, it can be passed on to another volunteer looking for a more long-term role.