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This list gives you some guidance on what types of press releases to look for to collect. Some public statements will require you to make a judgement call. If you're not sure, err on the side of collecting it. We would rather take a speech no one will read than not take one that would be useful to a user.
Floor Speeches
Do Take:- Statements related to legislation, current events, or historical events
- Personal Tributes (These include congratulations to a constituent, scout troop, local business, etc...)
- Procedural statements such as speaker recognition, points of order, etc...
- Statements where the official is mentioned but never actually speaks
- Text of bills or amendments
- Text of Resolutions
- Extraneous materials that the official requests be included in the record if they do not help to clarify the official's position
- The pledge of allegiance or reading of the constitution
Websites
Do Take:- Items regarding legislation, current major events, or historical current events in which the individual speaks/is quoted
- Blogs written by the individual, or contain significant quotes by the individual
- Letters from the individual
- Opinion-Editorials (Op-Eds) by the individual
- Hearing Statements and summaries of Hearing Statements by the individual (follow the Hearing format for full hearing statements, treat as a press release or statement if only a partial/summary of hearing statement)
- Speeches by the individual - Except Floor Speeches
- Columns by the individual
- Hearing statements by the individual (If a full hearing transcript, format as a Hearing. If a partial/summary of hearing statement, format as a Press Release/Statement)
- Statements on Post Office Name Changes, and Anniversaries of Significant historical events such as WWII, Holocaust etc
- Issue positions
- Personal Tributes (These include congratulations/honoring a constituent, commenting on the passing or death of a person, awards given to representatives,scout troop, local business, etc...)
- Funding announcements (such as grants) unless there is significant discussion by the individual (use your judgement) on the function of the funding
- Radio/TV transcripts - If you find one on an official's website, communicate with the person assigned to the TV Transcripts schedule, so they know to keep an eye out for it.
- Scheduling or meeting announcements
- Constituent services announcements
- Roundtables/Business Meetings unless there is significant discussion by the individual (use your judgement) on the purpose of the meeting
- Floor Speeches
- Statements by people speaking for the official/candidate.
- News Articles (Be sure to check sections labeled 'News', 'In the News' etc... however, as they may contain Op-Eds)
- Blogs written about the individual or quoting individual out of context
- Resolutions relating to National Police Week, National Donut Day, etc
- Statements about Holidays and Anniversaries unless there is significant policy discussion
Blogs
Do Take:- Blog posts written directly by the official/candidate
- Interviews with the official/candidate not found elsewhere
- Blogs containing substantive quotes by the official/candidate not found elsewhere
- Blog posts written about the official/candidate
- Blog posts quoting the official/candidate out of context
Candidates
Do Take:- Press releases in which the individual's own words make up the majority of the text except if listed under Do Not Take
- Press releases regarding legislation, major current events, or major historical events
- Blogs written by the individual
- Letters from the individual
- Op-Eds
- Speeches
- Columns
- Radio/TV transcripts when available
- Issue positions
- Statements by people speaking for the candidate, such as a campaign manager.
- Personal Tributes
- Fund-raising announcements
- Scheduling or meeting announcements
- News articles
TV Transcripts
Do Take- Items regarding legislation, current major events, or historical current events in which the individual speaks/is quoted.
- Statements by people speaking for the candidate.
- Personal Tributes (These include congratulations to a constituent, scout troop, local business, etc...)
- Quotes by other officials (add BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT) - only include quotes by individual (do not share Transcripts)
