The gist: Our Flashcards are quick reference tools for effective communications strategies you can use in your work for sustainability everyday. Browse past Flashcards indexed here to tune up your values-based communications strategies.

Important links:
About Sightline Flashcards
Values-based Communication
Resources and References

Responsibility, Family, Legacy

This Flashcard is the first in a series of monthly tips from Sightline meant to spark a dialogue about the words, symbols, and stories we use to articulate our core values. Flashcard No. 1 distills opinion research conducted in 2007by Sightline in Oregon. Three values resonated broadly with focus group participants and consistently triggered a sense of ownership of the future – in particular, activating a sense of personal responsibility to one’s family, the land, and future generations. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Climate Communication Checklist

Communicating about climate change isn't as easy as 1, 2, 3...but Sightline's August Flashcard offers three steps aimed to get northwesterners talking with a more powerful and unified voice when it comes to solutions. The checklist helps get us started talking about climate with a more powerful and unified voice. (photo courtesy Brian Silver). Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Connecting to Opportunity

A level playing field, everyone deserves a fair shot, rooting for the underdog – even those of us who aren’t big sports fans speak the language of ball games to describe some of our most deeply held values. These colloquialisms say a lot about our core belief in “opportunity for all” as a fundamental human right. Flashcard No. 3, reminds us that "opportunity" connects a wide range of issues to our shared hopes, dreams and beliefs about fairness, security, and equality. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Six Principles of Stickiness

In the marketplace of ideas some stories have long, healthy lives while others quickly disappear. Why do some ideas stick? In September, Sightline hosted a communications workshop with Chip Heath, Stanford prof and co-author of the new book, Made to Stick. Flashcard No. 4 is a snapshot of the book's Six Principles of Stickiness, tools for communicators based on analysis of common traits found in naturally successful and durable stories, from urban legends to corporate mottoes. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Making Numbers Count

Eighty quadrillion BTUs, 28 million tons of carbon, 3.5 million kilowatt hours, 50 percent efficiency increase, 80 percent carbon reduction by 2050… Huh? Exactly. Here at Sightline, data is our bread and butter. But unless numbers are hitched to a story, they are unlikely to mean much to those we are trying to reach. Flashcard No. 5 offers tips for bringing numbers down to earth and painting meaningful, memorable pictures. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Taking Back the "G-Word"

Here's a holiday party trick: Ask friends and colleagues what they think of government. At the mere mention of the word, most Americans snort, roll their eyes, or laugh. So should we avoid using the "g-word" altogether? Not necessarily. A three-year study called "Talking About Government" offers tips for polishing up government's public image. And Flashcard No. 6 gives a snapshot of the recommendations. Try it out: Turn that party conversation around!  Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Talking About Cap-and-Trade

When it comes to climate change, there's a growing consensus: Action now. And when it comes to climate policy, there's a growing mandate: Cap climate pollution. From presidential candidates to Northwest governors, "cap-and-trade" is on the tip of everyone's tongue. And regionally and nationally, cap-and-trade solutions are getting traction. Here are a few tips for turning that traction into real action. Cap-and-trade: Everyone's talking about it. You can too. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Gut-Check Guide (for policy-driven communicators)

"In politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins." So says Drew Westen, renowned psychologist, neuroscientist, and author of The Political Brain. Flashcard No. 8 is Sightline's quick "gut-check guide" for the policy-driven communicator -- our take on the key lessons from Westen's research. He reminds us that our data, facts, and policy solutions must not only compete in the marketplace of ideas but also in the marketplace of emotions. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Smart Community Planning: Freedom, Character, and Convenience

We know in our guts that more time in our cars, more and more money on gas, and more pavement over farmland is making our lives worse, not better. But how will Americans decide if certain policies to promote smart growth are good or bad? According to an extensive public opinion research project and communications toolkit produced by the Biodiversity Project, people will ask if community planning and land use policy decisions are consistent with their core values -- personal decisions about how they want to live, how they see their future, what they believe is common sense, and what they believe is right and wrong. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download the printable version.

Talking Regulation, Post Melt-down

As the US economy began to falter, Alan Greenspan announced it and polls show it too: There's been a sea change in attitudes about regulation lately -- across the political spectrum. As we suffer the consequences of deregulation of our financial system, policymakers can--and must--boldly and confidently reclaim responsible regulation as friend, not foe. Go to the Flashcard webpage or download a printable version.

Prescription for a Healthy Energy Economy

Everyone's talking about gas prices. Let's shift the conversation to real remedies and real energy stability. Our prescription: smart energy policies that will renew our economy, cut global warming pollution, and help us kick an unhealthy fossil fuel habit. Why remain captive to skyrocketing fuel prices when we can stabilize our economy with efficient transportation and clean, abundant sources of energy like the sun and wind? Go to the Flashcard webpage or download a printable version.

Winning the Climate Fairness Debate

In coming months, climate policy will be written for the Northwest as state legislators consider recommendations from the Western Climate Initiative. It’s imperative to make sure policy is fair and works for people first. Sightline's talking points this month: tips for winning the debate on climate fairness and economic benefits. Go to the Flashcard webpage.

Roadmap for the New Landscape of CHOICE

Much has changed since Roe v. Wade. Today, a growing number of Americans believe abortion either should be legal but restricted, or legal but only in narrow circumstances.

How can advocates and policymakers move forward in this "pro-choice but..." landscape? Recent messaging research gives us a roadmap for effectively navigating this new terrain. Go to the Flashcard webpage.

Cap and Trade: Winning on Economic Terms

Northwest lawmakers are pioneering legislation to cap global warming pollution and put our communities at the forefront of a new energy economy.
But every step of the way, lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry and big business are on the attack to make sure their profits are protected.

More than ever, we need to win on economic terms, connecting the dots between energy security, economic recovery, and smart climate policy. Go to the Flashcard webpage.

Talking Budgets

Families are struggling in these tough economic times—and government budgets are suffering just as badly. But line-item turf wars and blame games are counterproductive—as are some of our old messaging habits. In good times and in bad, our core values stay the same: opportunity for all, health for our families, and good, safe places to live and work. For the health of our communities, now and into the future, these principles shouldn’t waver—and our most powerful communications will reflect this.

This month's Flashcard is based on research by Public Works: The Demos Center for the Public Sector. Go to the Flashcard webpage.

Cracking the Communication

Thom Hartmann -- talk radio host and communications expert -- likens communication to other familiar tools. Like scalpels or screwdrivers, our words are tools that help us to be effective in our work. This Flashcard pulls together three lessons from Hartmann's recent book, Cracking the Code: How to Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Restore America’s Original Vision (Berrett-Koehler Publishers).

Energy Policy: Messaging Checklist

Our job now is to keep the momentum going with smart communications that preempt the shallow claims made by those who oppose real climate and energy solutions.

This month's Flashcard: Trends in polling from the last few months and some of the most powerful messaging implications we can draw from them.

Go to the Flashcard webpage.

Flashcards are monthly emails linked to research and analysis on our website. To sign up for the Flashcard mailing list, click here. Send questions or comments--or your own case studies to Sightline communications strategist Anna Fahey: anna@sightline.org.