The SPIN (Strategic Press Information Network) Project
Independent Media Institute, 177 Federal Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94107
Tel: 415-284-1427; FAX: 415-284-1414
E-mail: info@spinproject.org, rbray@spinproject.org (Robert Bray, SPIN Project Director); WWW: http://www.spinproject.org/spin

Established in 1997, the SPIN Project provides media assistance to nonprofit public interest organizations around the nation who want to influence debate, shape public opinion, and garner positive media attention. They help grow the capacity of organizations to get their voices heard and do more effective media work on issues important to the future of our society. SPIN offers mostly free public relations consulting, including comprehensive media training, intensive media strategizing, and ongoing support. Their SPIN Academy provided advanced training for selected activists from a variety of organizations across the nation. They have worked on numerous issues and campaigns, including living wage and job gap; reproductive freedom and women's health, with a special focus on women of color; contingent workers; environmental justice; conservation; immigrants’ rights; civil rights, including gay and lesbian equality; human rights; corporate accountability; consumer rights; welfare/workfare; and health care. Available online is a variety of activist-friendly media tutorials such as "writing for PR," "writing briefs," and "handling a hostile reporter." They published SPIN Works!, a media guidebook for activists.