Campaigns & Elections' Politics - February 2008 - (Page 58) Playbook Grassroots Lobbying Making Noise vs. Making a Difference on Capitol Hill By Tim D. Hysom and Kathy Goldschmidt 58 Politics February 2008 PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES T hrough e-mail and the Internet, it is now easier than ever for citizens to share information, organize around issues and communicate their views to Congress. It is also easier for organizations to engage their members in public policy. As a result, Capitol Hill is receiving an unprecedented surge in communications. However, because their resources have not kept pace with demands, congressional offices are having to make choices about what gets immediate attention and what gets put off or ignored. If a grassroots campaign wants to land on the right side of that line, it must be designed to make a difference, not just to make noise. But what does that mean? Through the Communicating with Congress project, the Congressional Management Foundation has been trying to answer that question. CMF has conducted several years of research to understand both sides of congressional communications, including surveys and interviews of congressional staffers; a national survey of citizens; and a conference with representatives from Congress, interest groups, academia and the technology industry. Through these efforts, CMF has identified best practices, worst practices and opportunities for change on both sides, and we will be publishing our recommendations in a report this spring.
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