Get the news out! Create buzz through a media partner.
- Let your regional, local and hyper-local news agencies know about the survey.
- Different media outlets will appeal to different groups, so cast your net as widely as you can.
- Modify the template below to fit your needs.
EXAMPLE: General press release to announce the survey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [insert name]
Telephone: [insert phone]
Email: [insert email]
Date: [insert date]
Headline: [Community name] Officials Plan/Prepare for Upcoming Resident Survey
[Community name, State]: [City/County/other] officials are pleased to announce they will be conducting a comprehensive quality of life survey next month. The survey will initially be available to randomly selected residents, who will receive a mailed invitation to participate. Soon after, all residents will be able to complete the survey online by visiting the [City/County/other]’s website at [homepage/URL].
“We’re very excited to be conducting this survey,” says [full name], [title of official or spokesperson]. “This survey will help [City/County/other] staff and Council identify priorities for the community and improve the quality of life in [community name].”
For the past few weeks, [title of official or spokesperson] [full name] has been working with Polco, an independent consultant and civic engagement company, to develop the survey. The instrument, known as The National Community Survey™, allows the [City/County/other] to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. The survey will include questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by [community name], and priorities for the future. The survey will be available online in English [insert other languages here, if applicable].
[City/County/other] [Mayor/council member/other] hopes all residents will participate in this survey saying, “[Community name] is a great community and the results will help to create a better [City/County/other]. I encourage everyone living in [community name] to take the survey and help us chart our community’s future.”
Residents with questions about the survey may contact the [City/County/other] by phone at [insert phone], by email at [insert email] or by visiting [insert URL].
About The National Community Survey™ (The NCS™): The NCS was among the first scientific surveys developed to gather resident opinion on a range of community issues, and has been used in more than 350 jurisdictions across 46 states. The NCS is a cost-effective survey of resident opinion and an important benchmarking tool that allows for comparison among communities. Communities using The NCS have reported that the tool improved service delivery, strengthened communications with community stakeholders and helped leaders identify clear priorities for use in strategic planning and budget setting. The NCS is the only resident survey endorsed by the International City/County Management Association and the National League of Cities.
About Polco: (www.polco.us) Polco was developed to quickly deploy and analyze surveys online, providing the agility to gather critical information from community stakeholders throughout the nation. We have created tools for governments, economic development organizations and nonprofits to measure community livability. Respondents to The NCS are asked to join the City’s Polco panel to see the survey results and continue to engage with the city on future research.
