This document provides guidance on writing a backgrounder. A backgrounder examines a present situation or problem by considering its origins and implications for the future. Backgrounders are produced for various purposes and can serve as the basis for other communications. They vary in complexity, from simple to detailed. When developing a backgrounder, one should determine the desired tone and audience, conduct research, and provide an issue statement, background information, analysis of the current situation, implications, documentation, and links to additional resources. Backgrounders are often used as an information base, in media kits, for public distribution, on the speaking circuit, and to support lobbying or workshop efforts.

1. Writing a Backgrounder

2. What is a backgrounder? It looks at a situation or problem in the present by considering its origins and implications for the future.

3. Companies and organizations need to be prepared.

4. WTO Agricultural Negotiations Backgrounder

5. Conduct an online search to find examples of backgrounders Find a style that you would like to use as a model for your project and share it with the class. Backgrounders are produced for many purposes and often serve as a means or basis for producing other works of communication.

6. Backgrounders are not all the same You will find that some are very complex and contain a great deal of information. Others are more down-to-earth and contain easily readable information. The following image of a backgrounder designed for the web its simple only in the sense that it condenses 5000 years of history.

7. Determine the Mood or Image that you want to convey If you are developing an Online Press Center, people other than the media are going to read your backgrounder. If you are developing a Press Kit to send to the media, you may want to get into more specific details and industry jargon. Source: The Write Market

8. Press Backgrounders Philips: Sense and Simplicity

9. What often follows a backgrounder is a white paper or position paper. The white paper resembles a research paper that takes a point of view and marshals evidence in support of the position taken.

10. Both documents are ways to form responses to the press or your public. What’s your position? No Comment won’t be good enough.

11. When Do Companies Use Backgrounders? Serves as an information base to executives and employees Provides source material for campaign media kits Serves as a document to hand out to the media and public Can be used on a speech circuit

12. Research, Research and More Research

13. Always begin a backgrounder with a statement of the issue and why it is important Be precise and concise.

14. Provide Background Information

15. Examine the Current Situation

16. Discuss the Implications

17. Provide Documentation

18. Format. In our case, we will produce a web page.

19. Considerspecial uses for your backgrounder. Lobbying Efforts Workshops Online presentations Op-eds

20. Provide links to more information: Alliance for Rural Electrification http://www.ruralelec.org/245.0.html