Action alert
An action alert is a message that an organization sends to mobilize people, often members of the group and supporters of a specific point of view, calling on them to take action to influence public policy. Typically, action alerts are in reference to a timely issue, where prompt action is needed in order to affect upcoming decisions.
Description
Action alerts are considered a cost-effective and efficient grassroots organizing tool and are employed widely by many advocacy organizations. A well-designed action alert can be a "powerful way to invite people to participate in the processes of a democracy."Action alerts may, for instance, ask supporters to:
- Contact their legislator to highlight the issue or argue for/against proposed legislation; or
- Write a letter to the editor about a specific item in the news.
Organisations that use action alerts
- Citizens Against Government Waste
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- American Family Association
- Public Citizen
- National Right to Work Committee
- Tea Party Express
- Free Software Foundation
- Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
- Amnesty International
- Human Rights Watch
- Corruption Watch (South Africa)
- Transparency International
- Indonesia Corruption Watch
- Anti-Corruption Foundation
- Watchdog.org
- International Republican Institute