March For Our Lives (Part I): Brendan Duff on Its Founding, PR and Youth Activism
05/19/20 • 21 min
On February 14, 2018, a gunman open-fired on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in what became the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The tragedy gave birth to an influential movement, the student-led March for Our Lives, which transcended South Florida and sparked activism for gun control reform through national protests and school walkouts.
In this episode, March For Our Lives co-founder Brendan Duff recalls how the organization came together, and as the de facto media relations manager, how he used public relations tools early on to bring their messages to a global stage.
This discussion is part of our series reviewing the 2020 Global Communication Report on New Activism, which is available for free download at annenberg.usc.edu/gcr.
- Featuring: Brendan Duff (@Brendinid), Co-Founder of March For Our Lives and Elon University Strategic Communications Major
- Host: Fred Cook (@fredcook), Chairman of Golin, a global PR firm. Author of “Improvise - Unorthodox Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO” and Director of the USC Center for Public Relations
- Follow us: @Center4PR (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)
- Newsletter: News from the USC Center for Public Relations
- For more, visit our website: https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/center-public-relations
A production of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations at the University of Southern California.
On February 14, 2018, a gunman open-fired on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in what became the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The tragedy gave birth to an influential movement, the student-led March for Our Lives, which transcended South Florida and sparked activism for gun control reform through national protests and school walkouts.
In this episode, March For Our Lives co-founder Brendan Duff recalls how the organization came together, and as the de facto media relations manager, how he used public relations tools early on to bring their messages to a global stage.
This discussion is part of our series reviewing the 2020 Global Communication Report on New Activism, which is available for free download at annenberg.usc.edu/gcr.
- Featuring: Brendan Duff (@Brendinid), Co-Founder of March For Our Lives and Elon University Strategic Communications Major
- Host: Fred Cook (@fredcook), Chairman of Golin, a global PR firm. Author of “Improvise - Unorthodox Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO” and Director of the USC Center for Public Relations
- Follow us: @Center4PR (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)
- Newsletter: News from the USC Center for Public Relations
- For more, visit our website: https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/center-public-relations
A production of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations at the University of Southern California.
Next Episode
March For Our Lives (Part II): Brendan Duff on Sparking a National Movement, PR and Youth Activism
March for Our Lives began in a small town in Florida, but its student organizers went on to spearhead the largest single-day protest against gun violence in U.S. history. The organization registered over 50,000 new voters and spurred the highest percentage of youth voter turnout ever in the 2018 midterm elections.
In part two of our interview with March For Our Lives co-founder Brendan Duff, Brendan discusses why the March For Our Lives organization has expanded its mission to focus on voter registration, how they have formed and maintained successful partnerships with corporations and which public relations tactics continue to be an essential part of their efforts.
This discussion is part of our series reviewing the 2020 Global Communication Report on New Activism, which is available for free download at annenberg.usc.edu/gcr.
- Featuring: Brendan Duff (@Brendinid), Co-Founder of March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) and Elon University Strategic Communications Major
- Host: Fred Cook (@fredcook), Chairman of Golin, a global PR firm. Author of “Improvise - Unorthodox Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO” and Director of the USC Center for Public Relations
- Follow us: @Center4PR (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)
- Newsletter: News from the USC Center for Public Relations
- For more, visit our website: https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/center-public-relations
A production of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations at the University of Southern California.
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