A reporter can use anything you say in a story -- and may be quote you directly if you don’t specify terms -- but not attribute you by name
What is On Background
Piece of news shared with ONLY ONE press outlet and ONE press outlet alone
What is an Exclusive
This research practice involves looking into an opponent's personal, professional, and political history to uncover vulnerabilities or damaging information to hit them with in press
What is Oppo
An individual who can publicly speak on behalf of a candidate or elected official, typically to promote, defend, or explain their positions and policies
What is a Surrogate
Once known only for newsletters, this platform now lets creators host live video interviews and real-time broadcasts for their subscribers
What is Substack
Nothing said can be used in a story or attributed to you in any way, but a reporter can try to find someone else
What is Off the Record
Formal outline of tasks you need to complete to maximize earned media coverage within a specific time frame, taking into account the political environment, the message and themes the candidate is attempting to communicate, and opportunities available to introduce/define the candidate.
What is a Press Plan
A shorter press briefing (usually held by elected officials) in which video and photography is not allowed
What is a Pen and Pad
A person, usually a politician or a political operative, whose job is to act as a forceful advocate for their party or candidate, while simultaneously attempting to undermine the credibility, policies, or character of their political adversaries
What is an Attack Dog
This short-form, vertical format is used to quickly deliver messages and reach audiences on a major video platform that is the second largest search engine behind Google.
What are Youtube Shorts
With this attribution, everything said can be used in a story but not quoted or attributed to anyone
What is On Deep Background
An agreement with a reporter that you will share information with them ahead of that information being public, so long as they comply with your terms
What is an Embargo
Getting more information about a story, including angle or thesis, what the reporter wants from us, what other voices they’ll have in their story, and deadline
What is Intake
The disembodied voice one hears booming through the speakers at an event or rally that introduces the candidate or moves the program along.
What is the Voice of God
This mobile-first video format, designed for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, is used to quickly reach and engage voters where they scroll most.
What is Vertical Video
This attribution often gets candidates in trouble because they forgot they are always...
What is On the Record
A speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign
What is a Stump Speech
This medium helps political communicators reach audiences through sustained conversation beyond traditional media hits.
What is a Podcast
This process involves collecting, cleaning, and interpreting data from online platforms to better understand user behavior, track performance, and extract actionable insights to see what content works best.
What is Social Analytics
Consequence to making a false statement that causes a target to claim any injury or damages
What is Defamation
A notice that contains the full name of the individual, group, political committee, corporation, or labor organization that paid for a piece of communication
What is a Disclaimer
This secret signal lets campaigns "coordinate," with outside spending groups by posting instructions on public websites that tell super PACs which voters to target and what messages to use
What is a Red Box
Informal press briefing where everything is on the record and all press mediums are allowed, typically in less structured environments, outside or/after an event, on the steps of the Capitol, etc.
What is a Press Gaggle
You should always write in this style. Asserts that the person or thing represented by the grammatical subject performs the action represented by the verb.
What is Active Voice
A term used in American politics to refer to a person who appears on all five American major Sunday morning talk shows on the same day.
What is a Full Ginsburg