Policy Writing

This video shows how to convert theoretical, academic research into clear, actionable policy briefs.

This Sierra Club primer includes
three ways to engage your representative. You’ll learn how to write a letter that will get noticed, how to structure a question at a town hall and what to do if you have the opportunity to meet with your representative.

UNC Chapel Hill Writing Center offers this policy briefs guide—a great one-stop shop for info about how to write policy and / or reach policy audiences.

This easy-to-consume article focuses on writing press releases for biz products, but its guidelines are vivid, with easy-to-apply newsworthy announcements. Using potent headlines, quotes, and data relevant to your intended audiences and media sources to broadcast your key messages are tips we can all embrace.

Geared towards university community members publishing op-eds nationally, the tips presented here are helpful for all writers. Dive into this practical guide for easy-to-follow techniques to craft powerful opinion pieces.

This guide provides recommendations for writing persuasive, efficient, evidence-based papers and reports that can be and are used in a variety of venues (not just academic institutions or think tanks). There’s a great discussion (and examples) about criteria for developing policy choices and recommendations, including conducting sound analysis and weighing context.

White papers began as official government docs communicating positions, issues analysis, and related solutions to challenges of all sorts. Today, white papers are widely used in biz as marketing tools to sell products and services. You might be called upon to write a white paper for your organization to make an official statement on an issue, or to present needed services to your community. If so, dive in here for help.

The Policy Communication Toolkit teaches trainers how develop multi-day workshops to help people turn research into reality. Based on 30+ years of proven strategies, you'll learn to effectively communicate evidence and its impact to elected officials and key decision-makers, ensuring sound policy development. The site also has course material available for download in French and Spanish.

Beyond traditional policy writing, here’s a treasure trove of inspiration for action. Originally published in 2020 (updated 2021), it emphasizes that the “commitment to fighting for racial justice must extend beyond the page. To that end, we are compiling a list of resources that we hope will help you in your own response to racial injustice and police violence.”