**[Sample Single Overriding Communications Objective
(SOCO)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_]{.underline}**

***Worksheet***

In one BRIEF paragraph, state the key point or objective you want to
accomplish by doing the interview. This statement should reflect what
you, the author or speaker, would like to see as the lead paragraph in a
newspaper story or broadcast report about your topic.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| National surveillance data show that the rate of active TB cases fell |
| to an all time low in 2004 to 4.9 cases per 100,000 people, or 14,511 |
| total cases.                                                          |
|                                                                       |
| However, decline in the national TB rate was only 3.3% from 2003 to   |
| 2004 -- one of the smallest declines in more than a decade            |
|                                                                       |
| -   May suggest slowing in our progress towards eliminating TB in the |
|     U.S.                                                              |
|                                                                       |
| -   Overall slowing, combined with disproportionate impact on several |
|     populations, especially racial/ethnic minorities and foreign-born |
|     individuals, are reason for concern                               |
|                                                                       |
| -   Have learned from the past that TB must continue to be taken      |
|     seriously                                                         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

> What are the three or four facts or statistics you would like the
> public to remember as a result of reading or hearing about this story?

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Foreign-born persons accounted for more than half of TB cases and had |
| a case rate 8.7 times higher than U.S. born (22.5 v. 2.6/100,000)     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CDC is working to strengthen global partnerships in areas hardest hit |
| by TB by:                                                             |
|                                                                       |
| -   Improving overseas screening for immigrants and refugees and      |
|     testing recent arrivals from high-incidence countries for latent  |
|     TB infection                                                      |
|                                                                       |
| -   Strengthening the notification system that alerts local health    |
|     departments to the arrival of immigrants who are known or         |
|     believed to have TB                                               |
|                                                                       |
| -   Improving coordination of TB control with Mexico                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Rates for Hispanics 8x higher than whites, 8 times higher for Blacks, |
| 20 times higher for Asians                                            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CDC is working on an ongoing basis with state/local health            |
| departments to ensure adequate local resources in communities facing  |
| burden                                                                |
|                                                                       |
| -   Funded demonstration projects in Illinois, Georgia, and South     |
|     Carolina to help address TB among African Americans               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

> Who is the main audience or population segment you would like this
> message to reach?

Primary: General public Secondary: Policy makers (awareness)

What is the ONE message you want the audience to take away from this
interview/report?

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Latest data show that TB was at an all time low in 2004, but progress
  to eliminate TB in the U.S. may be slowing.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Who in your office will serve as the primary point of contact for the
media?

Name: Phone: Email:

Date(s) and time(s) available: Date: Time: