Media coverage is a critical tool in a student activist’s playbook. You can use it to get your message out, spur cultural change, and put pressure on your college’s administration. Colleges and universities sweep gender-based violence under the rug because taking it seriously can hurt their bottom line. Students can leverage media coverage to push schools to take action.

Parents and donors often think fewer reports of rape, and fewer people punished, is a good thing—but in reality, when reporting is low, it’s because schools are discouraging survivors from coming forward or mishandling cases. Using media coverage to show how your school is failing survivors can help educate your community and prospective students about what’s actually happening, which in turn can encourage your school to take gender-based violence seriously.

This section covers the basics of how to get media coverage, what materials you should have ready for press before an action, how to speak with reporters, and how to leverage media to build student power. As you run your campaign, we can also help connect you with local and national reporters and media outlets to increase media coverage of the work you are doing; email Know Your IX if you have a story or action you want help publicizing!

This resource is part of our Campus Organizing ToolkitWhether your campus needs policy and judicial process reform, has a lack of crisis response and counseling services, or needs greater prevention education, the Campus Organizing Toolkit will walk you through legal requirements and organizing strategies needed to plan an effective campaign.