Policy Messaging That Sticks
In Utah’s Legislature, your message is competing with dozens of others every single day.
Lawmakers sit through hours of committee hearings, hallway conversations, and inboxes full of policy memos — often hearing multiple versions of the same bill from opposing sides. The reality is, if you can’t explain your position in a way that’s clear, concise, and memorable, you’re not just losing the argument — you’re losing the room.
At Morgan & May, we’ve developed a proven process to help clients cut through the noise and deliver messages that lawmakers, media, and the public remember.
1. Translate the Policy Into Plain Language
Legislative language can be dense, technical, and inaccessible to anyone who doesn’t live and breathe the issue. We work with clients to distill complex policy into its clearest form — without watering down the accuracy.
For example, a 40-page regulatory reform bill might boil down to a single sentence: “This bill streamlines the permitting process so projects can move faster without skipping environmental review.” That’s the line lawmakers will remember in the elevator.
2. Tailor the Message to the Audience
What resonates in a rural legislative district may be different from what lands with an urban business coalition or an editorial board. The core message stays the same, but the framing shifts to match the priorities and language of the audience.
For example, when advocating on a complex regulatory issue, our conversations with lawmakers focused on long-term economic stability and predictability for businesses, while our media outreach highlighted the direct impact on local communities and everyday Utahns. Both were true. Both were effective. Each was targeted.
3. Pair Data with Real Stories
Data gives your message credibility. Stories make it resonate. The most effective policy messaging combines both.
We help clients identify compelling narratives — from constituents, industry leaders, or impacted communities — and match them with clear, verifiable data points. It’s a combination that sticks in both the mind and the record.
4. Stay Disciplined and Repeat
Even the best-crafted message won’t stick if it’s delivered once and forgotten. We coach clients to use their core message in every setting: testimony, media interviews, stakeholder meetings, and informal conversations. The repetition builds familiarity — and familiarity builds influence.
The Bottom Line
A message that sticks is a message that wins. In a crowded policy environment, it’s not enough to have the best facts or the most compelling case. You have to deliver it in a way that earns attention, holds it, and gets repeated in the rooms where decisions are made.
That’s the standard we bring to every client we work with.
📍 Learn more about how we help clients refine and deliver their message at morganandmay.com
