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[post_content] => Every public affairs professional goes through it eventually. Perhaps your organization takes up a new issue, or your lobbying shop brings on a new client. Sooner or later, we all have to get smart in a policy area that is new to us, and do it in a hurry.
While it is tempting to rush and read, here’s a tip that many pros will endorse: take the time to fully brief yourself and take relevant notes before you start having meetings and making decisions. It gets far harder to go back and read later on, when you are deep in the action.
To get a quick and thorough lay of the land, think about how to answer the following questions:
- What is the State of Play? What is the current status of the issue, what bills have been introduced, and what is the status of those bills? What messages are the parties using to discuss this issue?
- Who is Taking Action? Who are the key stakeholders on this issue, which legislators are vocal champions, and which are detractors? Are there organizations that oppose your point of view?
- Where is the Action Taking Place? Where is this issue popping up across the country and where are the most vocal legislators and activists from?
When is the Action Happening? When did this issue gain traction, when did key events take place and when are things likely to heat up again? Is the issue influenced by the timing of state legislative sessions or the political cycle?
With a set of goals in mind, you can begin to research your policy issue. But for best results, do it in an organized way and build a briefing dashboard for reference as you go. This dashboard can be a helpful support for you later on, and can be shared with members of your team to reduce the amount of time they spend getting up to speed. If you have to brief the boss, for example, it is nice to have an organized and up-to-date set of briefing documents to hand over.
Start With Media Stories
Most research will start by simply reading what has been reported, both by major news organizations as well as by trade journals, policy publications, and other outlets. This is the fastest way to get up to speed, and you have to know what has been written and how the issue has been framed.
To get started, use
Quorum News Monitoring to search for news stories related to your issue. You can even tag documents and add them to a centralized dashboard. As the dashboard grows, keep it organized with the most important or informative information at the top. If someone in your organization needs to be briefed quickly, they should be able to access the dashboard to get up to speed.
In the rare case that your issue has been sparsely covered, note that, too. If The New York Times and The Washington Post have not yet written stories, and you cannot find mentions in Politico and Axios, that may be important information in coming weeks. By contrast, if your issue has a long history, it may be helpful to create a timeline as you go, noting when key events took place.
Explore the Legislative Record
When you have the basics, it's time to go deeper because a media search alone is not enough to be competitive on most issues. You need professional intel—legislative history and positioning information—and the best tool to use is Quorum. You can find out what legislation has been introduced, both in Congress and state legislatures. Full text of each bill, along with sponsors and cosponsors and a record of any votes taken, are all easily available. And that’s just a start.
Quorum’s comprehensive database of legislator documents, including “dear colleague” letters, floor statements, newsletters to constituents, tweets, and Facebook posts, can help you find champions on your issue. With a simple search, you can identify the most vocal lawmakers, the most active committees, and the caucuses that focus on your policy area. This can also be highly effective at identifying and monitoring opposition.
[caption id="attachment_9729" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
The chart shows the number of social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) mentions of the word “immigration” by Congressmembers in the past year.[/caption]
Through both bill and document searches, Quorum allows users to quickly see where an issue is getting the most traction. A bill search can determine which states are most active in sponsoring legislation. A dialogue search can show which state legislators are most vocal on an issue. To look at timing, click on Quorum’s trend graphs to find when the major spikes in dialogue took place on your issue. This provides insight into whether your issue gained traction because of political events, or because an advocacy organization was active during that period and was able to convince lawmakers to speak out.
[caption id="attachment_9730" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
A heatmap showing which states have introduced bills with the word “immigration” in the last year.[/caption]
All of this allows you to build out your briefing documents with actionable intelligence. Researching issues on Quorum takes you deeper into an issue than you can go with readily available free tools. It gives you a professional level of insight.
Pay Attention to Messaging
For example, Quorum can tell you the messaging that parties on both sides are using to describe your issue. In the document search, Quorum’s word cloud technology can show you which keywords legislators are using, then break it down by party to see terms and phrases distinct to Republican or Democratic messaging. You can also see what hashtags are driving the conversation on the issue. With this information, you can frame your campaigns using the exact phrases and dialogue lawmakers have already embraced.
Quorum also allows you to monitor social media—especially Twitter, which is the platform used most in Washington—and receive alerts when your issue is mentioned. The result is an early warning system that allows you to stay current on your issue, respond when necessary, and track what your supporters and opponents are saying.
Keep Your Intel Updated
Of course, very few issues sit static. The who, what, when, and where often change frequently as events, legislation, and campaigns take place. Smart organizations keep their briefing documents current, making it easy to educate new team members or look back at history to inform current strategy.
[caption id="attachment_9731" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Make sure nothing slips through the cracks with bill tracking organized by categories.[/caption]
In some cases, a staffer can be assigned to keep documents current, but this is also a task that can be automated. Quorum’s email alerts automatically clue you into the most recent bills and media stories. This helps monitor legislation that is being introduced, lawmakers who get vocal, which hashtags gain traction, and other extremely relevant information.
The truth is that research on your policy issue never stops for professionals who want to gain and maintain an edge. At the start, policy research is critical to developing a successful strategy. Later on, it is vital to monitor events so you can understand when the narrative changes and adapt. Getting smart in a hurry is always part of successful public affairs. And Quorum can help.
[post_title] => How to Research Your Policy Issue in 2024
[post_excerpt] => Learn the four ways Quorum can help you enhance your research on policy issues that matter the most to you and your organization.
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[post_content] => Every public affairs professional goes through it eventually. Perhaps your organization takes up a new issue, or your lobbying shop brings on a new client. Sooner or later, we all have to get smart in a policy area that is new to us, and do it in a hurry.
While it is tempting to rush and read, here’s a tip that many pros will endorse: take the time to fully brief yourself and take relevant notes before you start having meetings and making decisions. It gets far harder to go back and read later on, when you are deep in the action.
To get a quick and thorough lay of the land, think about how to answer the following questions:
- What is the State of Play? What is the current status of the issue, what bills have been introduced, and what is the status of those bills? What messages are the parties using to discuss this issue?
- Who is Taking Action? Who are the key stakeholders on this issue, which legislators are vocal champions, and which are detractors? Are there organizations that oppose your point of view?
- Where is the Action Taking Place? Where is this issue popping up across the country and where are the most vocal legislators and activists from?
When is the Action Happening? When did this issue gain traction, when did key events take place and when are things likely to heat up again? Is the issue influenced by the timing of state legislative sessions or the political cycle?
With a set of goals in mind, you can begin to research your policy issue. But for best results, do it in an organized way and build a briefing dashboard for reference as you go. This dashboard can be a helpful support for you later on, and can be shared with members of your team to reduce the amount of time they spend getting up to speed. If you have to brief the boss, for example, it is nice to have an organized and up-to-date set of briefing documents to hand over.
Start With Media Stories
Most research will start by simply reading what has been reported, both by major news organizations as well as by trade journals, policy publications, and other outlets. This is the fastest way to get up to speed, and you have to know what has been written and how the issue has been framed.
To get started, use
Quorum News Monitoring to search for news stories related to your issue. You can even tag documents and add them to a centralized dashboard. As the dashboard grows, keep it organized with the most important or informative information at the top. If someone in your organization needs to be briefed quickly, they should be able to access the dashboard to get up to speed.
In the rare case that your issue has been sparsely covered, note that, too. If The New York Times and The Washington Post have not yet written stories, and you cannot find mentions in Politico and Axios, that may be important information in coming weeks. By contrast, if your issue has a long history, it may be helpful to create a timeline as you go, noting when key events took place.
Explore the Legislative Record
When you have the basics, it's time to go deeper because a media search alone is not enough to be competitive on most issues. You need professional intel—legislative history and positioning information—and the best tool to use is Quorum. You can find out what legislation has been introduced, both in Congress and state legislatures. Full text of each bill, along with sponsors and cosponsors and a record of any votes taken, are all easily available. And that’s just a start.
Quorum’s comprehensive database of legislator documents, including “dear colleague” letters, floor statements, newsletters to constituents, tweets, and Facebook posts, can help you find champions on your issue. With a simple search, you can identify the most vocal lawmakers, the most active committees, and the caucuses that focus on your policy area. This can also be highly effective at identifying and monitoring opposition.
[caption id="attachment_9729" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
The chart shows the number of social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) mentions of the word “immigration” by Congressmembers in the past year.[/caption]
Through both bill and document searches, Quorum allows users to quickly see where an issue is getting the most traction. A bill search can determine which states are most active in sponsoring legislation. A dialogue search can show which state legislators are most vocal on an issue. To look at timing, click on Quorum’s trend graphs to find when the major spikes in dialogue took place on your issue. This provides insight into whether your issue gained traction because of political events, or because an advocacy organization was active during that period and was able to convince lawmakers to speak out.
[caption id="attachment_9730" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
A heatmap showing which states have introduced bills with the word “immigration” in the last year.[/caption]
All of this allows you to build out your briefing documents with actionable intelligence. Researching issues on Quorum takes you deeper into an issue than you can go with readily available free tools. It gives you a professional level of insight.
Pay Attention to Messaging
For example, Quorum can tell you the messaging that parties on both sides are using to describe your issue. In the document search, Quorum’s word cloud technology can show you which keywords legislators are using, then break it down by party to see terms and phrases distinct to Republican or Democratic messaging. You can also see what hashtags are driving the conversation on the issue. With this information, you can frame your campaigns using the exact phrases and dialogue lawmakers have already embraced.
Quorum also allows you to monitor social media—especially Twitter, which is the platform used most in Washington—and receive alerts when your issue is mentioned. The result is an early warning system that allows you to stay current on your issue, respond when necessary, and track what your supporters and opponents are saying.
Keep Your Intel Updated
Of course, very few issues sit static. The who, what, when, and where often change frequently as events, legislation, and campaigns take place. Smart organizations keep their briefing documents current, making it easy to educate new team members or look back at history to inform current strategy.
[caption id="attachment_9731" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Make sure nothing slips through the cracks with bill tracking organized by categories.[/caption]
In some cases, a staffer can be assigned to keep documents current, but this is also a task that can be automated. Quorum’s email alerts automatically clue you into the most recent bills and media stories. This helps monitor legislation that is being introduced, lawmakers who get vocal, which hashtags gain traction, and other extremely relevant information.
The truth is that research on your policy issue never stops for professionals who want to gain and maintain an edge. At the start, policy research is critical to developing a successful strategy. Later on, it is vital to monitor events so you can understand when the narrative changes and adapt. Getting smart in a hurry is always part of successful public affairs. And Quorum can help.
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[post_content] => Every public affairs professional goes through it eventually. Perhaps your organization takes up a new issue, or your lobbying shop brings on a new client. Sooner or later, we all have to get smart in a policy area that is new to us, and do it in a hurry.
While it is tempting to rush and read, here’s a tip that many pros will endorse: take the time to fully brief yourself and take relevant notes before you start having meetings and making decisions. It gets far harder to go back and read later on, when you are deep in the action.
To get a quick and thorough lay of the land, think about how to answer the following questions:
- What is the State of Play? What is the current status of the issue, what bills have been introduced, and what is the status of those bills? What messages are the parties using to discuss this issue?
- Who is Taking Action? Who are the key stakeholders on this issue, which legislators are vocal champions, and which are detractors? Are there organizations that oppose your point of view?
- Where is the Action Taking Place? Where is this issue popping up across the country and where are the most vocal legislators and activists from?
When is the Action Happening? When did this issue gain traction, when did key events take place and when are things likely to heat up again? Is the issue influenced by the timing of state legislative sessions or the political cycle?
With a set of goals in mind, you can begin to research your policy issue. But for best results, do it in an organized way and build a briefing dashboard for reference as you go. This dashboard can be a helpful support for you later on, and can be shared with members of your team to reduce the amount of time they spend getting up to speed. If you have to brief the boss, for example, it is nice to have an organized and up-to-date set of briefing documents to hand over.
Start With Media Stories
Most research will start by simply reading what has been reported, both by major news organizations as well as by trade journals, policy publications, and other outlets. This is the fastest way to get up to speed, and you have to know what has been written and how the issue has been framed.
To get started, use
Quorum News Monitoring to search for news stories related to your issue. You can even tag documents and add them to a centralized dashboard. As the dashboard grows, keep it organized with the most important or informative information at the top. If someone in your organization needs to be briefed quickly, they should be able to access the dashboard to get up to speed.
In the rare case that your issue has been sparsely covered, note that, too. If The New York Times and The Washington Post have not yet written stories, and you cannot find mentions in Politico and Axios, that may be important information in coming weeks. By contrast, if your issue has a long history, it may be helpful to create a timeline as you go, noting when key events took place.
Explore the Legislative Record
When you have the basics, it's time to go deeper because a media search alone is not enough to be competitive on most issues. You need professional intel—legislative history and positioning information—and the best tool to use is Quorum. You can find out what legislation has been introduced, both in Congress and state legislatures. Full text of each bill, along with sponsors and cosponsors and a record of any votes taken, are all easily available. And that’s just a start.
Quorum’s comprehensive database of legislator documents, including “dear colleague” letters, floor statements, newsletters to constituents, tweets, and Facebook posts, can help you find champions on your issue. With a simple search, you can identify the most vocal lawmakers, the most active committees, and the caucuses that focus on your policy area. This can also be highly effective at identifying and monitoring opposition.
[caption id="attachment_9729" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
The chart shows the number of social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) mentions of the word “immigration” by Congressmembers in the past year.[/caption]
Through both bill and document searches, Quorum allows users to quickly see where an issue is getting the most traction. A bill search can determine which states are most active in sponsoring legislation. A dialogue search can show which state legislators are most vocal on an issue. To look at timing, click on Quorum’s trend graphs to find when the major spikes in dialogue took place on your issue. This provides insight into whether your issue gained traction because of political events, or because an advocacy organization was active during that period and was able to convince lawmakers to speak out.
[caption id="attachment_9730" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
A heatmap showing which states have introduced bills with the word “immigration” in the last year.[/caption]
All of this allows you to build out your briefing documents with actionable intelligence. Researching issues on Quorum takes you deeper into an issue than you can go with readily available free tools. It gives you a professional level of insight.
Pay Attention to Messaging
For example, Quorum can tell you the messaging that parties on both sides are using to describe your issue. In the document search, Quorum’s word cloud technology can show you which keywords legislators are using, then break it down by party to see terms and phrases distinct to Republican or Democratic messaging. You can also see what hashtags are driving the conversation on the issue. With this information, you can frame your campaigns using the exact phrases and dialogue lawmakers have already embraced.
Quorum also allows you to monitor social media—especially Twitter, which is the platform used most in Washington—and receive alerts when your issue is mentioned. The result is an early warning system that allows you to stay current on your issue, respond when necessary, and track what your supporters and opponents are saying.
Keep Your Intel Updated
Of course, very few issues sit static. The who, what, when, and where often change frequently as events, legislation, and campaigns take place. Smart organizations keep their briefing documents current, making it easy to educate new team members or look back at history to inform current strategy.
[caption id="attachment_9731" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Make sure nothing slips through the cracks with bill tracking organized by categories.[/caption]
In some cases, a staffer can be assigned to keep documents current, but this is also a task that can be automated. Quorum’s email alerts automatically clue you into the most recent bills and media stories. This helps monitor legislation that is being introduced, lawmakers who get vocal, which hashtags gain traction, and other extremely relevant information.
The truth is that research on your policy issue never stops for professionals who want to gain and maintain an edge. At the start, policy research is critical to developing a successful strategy. Later on, it is vital to monitor events so you can understand when the narrative changes and adapt. Getting smart in a hurry is always part of successful public affairs. And Quorum can help.
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[post_excerpt] => Learn the four ways Quorum can help you enhance your research on policy issues that matter the most to you and your organization.
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