Classroom programs, likewise, are great for instilling good habits in the upcoming generation of Texans. And advertising campaigns can be very effective in reaching large groups of people. Yesterday afternoon, for example, Chris Brown from San Antonio and Ed Garana from Corpus Christi talked about spending literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for ongoing public outreach programs on water use and efficiency. And the pr campaigns those cities run are models for what every system should be doing if it could. A more viable option for small systems and an adjunct for large systems, then, is news coverage of your outreach campaign.
News coverage attaches import to the subject for only a minimal investment.
For example, a quarter page ad in even a community newspaper or one 60-second TV spot will set you back a bundle. But you can get a story on the front page of the paper or on the evening news for free. Be ready to explain why this effort is important. Don't assume the answers are obvious to anyone with half a brain. Do your homework so the facts are at your fingertips.