Dear Members,
 

When Green Media Toolshed was founded in May 2000, our goal was to strengthen the ability of environmental advocates to deliver their messages to the public by demystifying media relations and removing cost barriers to expensive reporter contact lists and other tools.  

We highly value the work and dedication of the members that we have served over the past twelve years and are proud that more than 500 environmental advocacy organizations have relied on us for access to traditional media tools and training since we started.

But times have changed. And so must we.

Traditional media relations services have become cheaper and cheaper. There are fewer beat reporters at news outlets. Reporter contact information is often readily available online and at no cost. Organizations can now communicate directly with audiences through social media and other digital strategies - and members report that this is the area where they most need tailored help. And finally, many funders are no longer able to underwrite the traditional media services we have provided through the Toolshed.

Therefore, after extensive analysis, Green Media Toolshed has decided to close the membership program on March 31, 2013 and will shift its focus to tailored advocacy network consulting. We will brief you on that change in the coming months and are excited about the opportunity to have a more robust contribution to the success of movements.

We know that our decision directly impacts your current access to media data. However, we are committed to making the transition smooth for our members in a number of ways:

• We hope that by providing five months of notice, you will have adequate time to export your lists to manage them in another platform and/or to transition to a new service if needed.
• We will maintain all core resources, as well as the global data add-on, until March 31, 2013.
• Finally, we will provide you with a list of other media database options to aid in your transition to another tool.

Within the next week, we will send you more technical details, such as specific closure dates, details about your partial year access and partial year refunds, as well as instructions for data exports. We will also post information and resources on our website.    

Finally, please accept our warmest appreciation for your partnership over the past 12 years. We admire the meaningful work that you do and remain committed to our environmental roots. I welcome your questions and comments, and invite you to contact me or Bobbi directly as we make this transition.

Sincerely,
 

Martin Kearns

President, Green Media Toolshed