TAPPING INTO THE POWER OF PERSONAL STORIES AND PRESS COVERAGE FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF

A national industry advocacy association turned to Cogent to launch an integrated public affairs strategy on behalf of its members, many of whom were in danger of closing due to the economic reverberations of COVID-19. Knowing that time was of the essence, our team sprang into action – connecting businesses with their local media outlets and providing national survey data to supplement reporting.

The result was a blitz of stories from around the United States, including hits from San Francisco, New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle and Orlando. National coverage by the Associated Press, The Hill and Fast Company, among others, added to the chorus. These stories were used in policymaker outreach to illustrate the devastating toll the pandemic was taking on the businesses in their states and districts, and they played a vital role in helping the industry secure billions of dollars in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and follow-on stimulus bills.