Who We Are

ActionMedia was founded in 1994 by Dick Brooks and Michael Goldberg, who brought three decades of journalism and broadcast management experience and insights. They had been working behind the scenes to help a small Chippewa tribe fight an Exxon mining project. In that battle they saw first hand that advocates – armed with solid facts, great ideas, and the best of intentions – were unable to communicate effectively outside small circles of like-minded experts and supporters.

They recognized that the advocates were overestimating the value of the media they have the least access to, such as national newspapers and broadcasts; and, they underestimated the power of the media they have the most control over – their own voices. ActionMedia was formed to help groups working for positive social change say what they mean.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities

Beginning in 2003, ActionMedia has conducted media analysis and national focus group research on the wide range of issues relating to the built environment. We have helped develop national and local communications, and provided training to hundreds of professional advocates, public officials, citizen activists and foundation staff working to help their communities decide what, where and how to build.

The McKnight Foundation

ActionMedia worked with a team of foundation staff, NGO’s, and other communications professionals to plan and execute the “Embrace Open Space” campaign. We contributed to McKnight’s 2006 report on the project, “Creating Common Ground”; and to McKnight’s “User’s Guide: Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Air Act”, a follow-up to the National Research Council report. In 2008, ActionMedia provided support to the Foundation’s leadership role with The Funders Forum for Sustainable Gulf Coast Restoration.

Housing California

ActionMedia has conducted focus group research over several years in support of Housing California’s successful advocacy for state-wide bonding and local decision making to increase the supply of homes people can afford. In 2008, we worked with Housing California member groups and allies to build support for measures to stabilize the housing market, and to assure consistent funding to balance the housing market and increase the supply.

Twin Cities LISC/ Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers

ActionMedia provides training and direct consultation services to Twin Cities LISC and the regional consortium to coordinate their communications, and strengthen the communications work of individual community development corporations in the region.

Sonoran Institute

The Sonoran Institute helps communities in the Western states make decisions about land use that respect the land and the people of the West. ActionMedia conducted an audit and analysis of Sonoran Institute's written communication materials, and facilitated staff and leadership meetings to develop new ways to describe the work of this organization, and revision of materials to emphasize broadly shared values. We've provided training and strategic consultation to the Institute’s Board, to its northern Rockies program, and through its Western Leadership Institute.