The Republican National Committee, in partnership with black media outlet Radio One (No. 9 on the BE 100s Industrial/Service list with $485 million in revenues) and TV One (No. 22 on the BE 100s Industrial/Service list with $149.5 million in revenues), has launched a new initiative to engage and mobilize black voters across the country in advance of the November 2016 presidential election. The campaign kicks off this week in Ohio and includes a series of engagement activities, issue forums and events in communities of color where the RNC is actively engaged and using Radio One’s platform.
The campaign, called “#CommittedToCommunity: Engage, Empower, Uplift,” which caters specifically to a black and urban audience. In addition to participating in several Radio One-hosted events such as the Heritage Concert Series and Women’s Empowerment Conference, RNC staff will also be present at churches throughout Ohio highlighting issues of particular concern to black voters that include job creation, education opportunities, strong families and safe communities.
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This initial phase of the multi-city initiative will begin with faith-based outreach in Columbus on July 12 and will end on August 6, the date of the first GOP presidential primary debate, which will be held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The campaign is part of an ongoing effort by
the national Republican Party to recruit black and urban voters, who in recent history generally have heavily favored Democratic candidates. Orlando Watson, the RNC’s communications director for black media, says Republicans want to capitalize on interest in the presidential debate and the Republican National Convention, which will be held in Cleveland the week of July 18, 2016.(Continued on next page)
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus released in a press statement, “We are on the move. As Chairman of the RNC, we are engaging every voter, not taking any voter for granted, and not overlooking any opportunity to share our message. For too long, some have peddled the idea that only one party cares about communities of color. Not true. We have stepped up our ground game in communities of color. Expect to see more RNC staff in diverse communities, discussing our shared values and actively recruiting people
from across the country. Voters will hear from us often and in black media outlets like Radio One to share our message, mobilize new activists and ask for their vote.â€Â RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day added that “by selecting with Radio One we are able to uniquely engage black voters and impact the way issues are viewed and discussed.â€Alfred C. Liggins, CEO of Radio One went on
to state, “The RNC wants to tell its story to the African-American community. Radio One reaches 82% of black Americans with our television, radio and digital multi-media platforms. We view ourselves as the link to our audience. Our reach, relationships with black churches, organizations, entertainers, and our unique understanding of our primary audience makes us a high-value partner to organizations like the RNC. We want the black electorate to be as informed as possible going into the 2016 election season. ”The RNC and Radio One will host events, including a concert series and community issues forums, in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. The GOP also is buying advertising that will begin on July 20 on Radio One stations, which include in Cleveland WENZ 107.9 FM, a hip-hop station, and WERE 1490 AM, a news/talk station. Subsequent cities and activities will be announced accordingly over the course of 2015-2016.
The campaign also digitally enhances the RNC’s black engagement strategy with geographically targeted mobile advertising geared toward millennials, and will emphasize issues including job creation, education opportunities, strong families and safe communities.