FAQs

Progressive Communicators of Washington, D.C. is an informal network of people working in traditional communications and new media who are committed to progressive causes and organizations.

Our goal is to improve the ability of our network’s members to serve progressive organizations by sponsoring trainings and speakers; sharing tips, strategies and best practices; and providing forums for progressive communicators to share information, including an email list.

PCDC has never charged a membership fee and has never charged for trainings or happy hours. We rely entirely on volunteer efforts and the generosity of sponsors.

PCDC is led by a Steering Committee of 12-16 volunteer members committed to leading and shaping the PCDC community by organizing and moderating forums for progressive communicators to share information and build community. Their roles include monitoring and managing the email list, evaluating applicants for membership, maintaining the website, and planning events. 

To become a member, please send an email to pcdc+subscribe@groups.io or request access through groups.io. You will receive a membership application to fill out, which will be reviewed by our Steering Committee.

Posts on PCDC's email listserv are able to be seen by all PCDC members. We ask all members of our community to voluntarily abide by the email list guidelines in posting. However, please note that PCDC’s email list is open, which means that any postings could be forwarded to others. Consider whether you want certain comments to be public before you post (for example, remarks about your organization or its leadership).

Every year, the Steering Committee selects and onboards 3-4 new members, ensuring fresh perspectives are continuously brought into the leadership. Applications for the Steering Committee will open in late Summer each year. Watch the PCDC email listserv to receive the notice and additional information about the application process!

It’s wonderful to have your participation! You can get started by emailing the PCDC Steering Committee here. PCDC is also eager to co-sponsor events with other groups.

No. The email list and website are intended for sharing information and ideas, not soliciting job offers or advertising services. An exception to this rule occurs on “Meet Me Monday,” the first Monday of every month. On Meet Me Monday, members are free to introduce themselves and describe what kind of work they do, the services they provide, or ask for a job or internship for themselves or a family member. Use MEET ME MONDAY in the subject line of your post. 

Yes. It is okay to offer your services in response to a specific request for those kind of services. What we discourage is advertisements for services when no one on the list has asked for them.

If the training or seminar is free, please post a notice to the PCDC email list and share your expertise. If you are charging money for the event or for materials, this violates our PCDC guidelines. Postings that would incur income to you, your business, or family members are not allowed. If you are not sure, please share your posting first with the Steering Committee and ask if it falls within the list guidelines. It is permitted for a third party who will not financially benefit from the event to notify members about events with fees.

Yes. It is helpful to have your recommendation for this person’s work. Since you are making a recommendation, and not incurring income yourself, this posting would be welcome on the email list. In addition, members are encouraged to provide recommendations to each other in response to requests for referrals.

Postings that would incur income to you, your business, or family members violate the PCDC guidelines. An exception to this rule occurs on “Meet Me Monday,” the first Monday of every month. On Meet Me Monday, members are free to introduce themselves and describe what kind of work they do, which could include a new product offering. Use MEET ME MONDAY in the subject line of your post. 

We ask that you do not. Since we have so many successful nonprofit communications staff and consultants in the PCDC community, the list would quickly become inundated. The exception to this rule would be if you are sharing the placement as part of a “best practices” example that details the lessons you learned during the process of getting your article placed or guidance that would benefit others on the list (for example, how you positioned a particular report as newsworthy, when ordinarily it would not be).

We ask that you do not use the PCDC email list to drive traffic to your own writing. The exception to this rule would be writing that provides guidance on improving communications strategies and tactics to further progressive causes and ideas.

No. Our members get many emails from many sources. It is best if the PCDC email list is reserved for professional development purposes.

If you are unsure of what is appropriate to post to the email list, or if you have a question, please email the Steering Committee here.