BIRD CONSERVATION NETWORK:

BREEDING BIRD TRENDS IN THE CHICAGO REGION (1999-2020)

Media Relations RFP

ABOUT BCN

Bird Conservation Network (BCN) has been promoting bird conservation and preserving and restoring bird habitat in the Chicago region for more than 15 years. BCN is a coalition of 21 organizations (bird clubs, Audubon chapters, ornithological societies, and conservation organizations) sharing an interest in the conservation of birds. The groups’ members total more than 35,000 people living primarily in the Chicago area, but also throughout Illinois, northeastern Indiana, and southern Wisconsin. BCN’s mission is the conservation of birds and the habitats they need to survive. There is no full-time staff; BCN’s board is made up of volunteer representatives from the member groups who carry out the needed work.

Using scientific protocols, BCN volunteers monitor bird populations throughout the Chicago region during the breeding season and throughout the year through an initiative known as the BCN Survey. This robust dataset compiled since 1999 helps land managers improve habitat, helps researchers prioritize species of growing concern, and is a valuable gauge for the status of our natural areas as well as the success of local and regional restoration projects.

COMMUNICATION PROJECT

The goal of BCN’s broader Trends Analysis communication project in 2022 is to share the findings of the Breeding Bird Trends and their implications for bird conservation in a compelling way for specific audiences. An ancillary goal is to raise the visibility of BCN while increasing the potential for recruitment of volunteers and new representatives of member organizations.

The results will be communicated to three primary audiences: regional land managers, policymakers/peer conservation entities, and the general public and birding community.  Communication channels include Zoom presentations to land managers, 1:1 outreach to peer policymakers/peer conservation entities, and news announcements to print, broadcast, and social channels. We are seeking help with this latter news announcements piece.

SERVICES REQUIRED
BCN seeks a Media Relations contractor to manage the media relations outreach and coordination component of this project. The contractor will work closely with a Breeding Bird Trends team of BCN volunteers headed by Diann Bilderback.  Results of our analysis can be viewed here:  https://www.bcnbirds.org/trends21/trends.html.

BCN seeks a contractor who will provide the following deliverables:

·      Identify appropriate print, broadcast, and online channels within the 6-county region covered in the BCN survey as well as select national birding/conservation outlets. BCN membership will share existing media contacts and suggest new ones.   Final media contact list is to be shared with BCN for future use as well.

·      Post news announcement over news wire on designated date.

·      Pitch the BCN story to identified channels and achieve 10 or more media placements, Examples of media placements include:

o   Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune.

o   Articles or columns in regional newspapers (Chicago suburbs and beyond, e.g., Kankakee Daily Journal).

o   TV news and special interest shows (e.g., WTTW Channel 11).

o   Radio news and talk stations and streaming programs (e.g., WCPT-820AM, WBBM Newsradio, The Mike Nowak Show).

o   Regional and national magazines (e.g., Illinois Audubon Society, National Audubon, Sierra Club, Nature).

·      Prepare recap of published news stories (print, broadcast, online).

TIMELINE

Late May is the targeted month for news announcement and media relations activities. Proposed timeline for Media Relations activities is as follows:

·      May 1-3:          Confer with BCN team and define strategy, target media list

·      May 4-10:        Finalize media relations plan and activities with core team

·      May 11-13:      Begin previewing embargoed release with primary media

·      May 17:           Publish news announcement over news wire

·      May 17-27:      Pitch news story to identified channels, coordinate media interviews

·      Jun 1:               Prepare roundup of news stories to BCN leadership

RFP RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

Please send a cover letter; a resume or CV; and a proposal that includes a summary of your qualifications, your proposed methods, names and contact information for two references, and a cost estimate to all three of these contacts: Mary Bernat, Mbernat@fastmail.com; Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com; and Eric Secker, president@bcnbirds.org.

Proposals should be no more than 1 page plus a 1-page cover letter and a CV; brevity is encouraged.

Responses submitted on or before April 25, 2022, will be considered.

CONTRACTING PROCESS

BCN leadership will review proposals and a selection will be made by April 30, 2022, with final approval from the BCN Executive Committee. A contract will be offered.

Questions about this request for proposal may be emailed to: Mary Bernat at mbernat@fastmail.com.