April 7, 2022
In early March, LCWA helped client American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) get out the word about the dangers of seasonal time changes by putting expert physicians on TV, radio and in newspapers around the country. LCWA drove healthcare PR coverage of the AASM’s recommendation of permanent standard time, as well as tips for dealing with the lost hour of sleep. These efforts resulted in 20 interviews for AASM experts and coverage in national outlets like AARP, the New York Times and Healthline as well as tailored local interviews with WAGA-TV in Atlanta and NBC Chicago, among others.
Then, in an unexpected move, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would eliminate the seasonal time change in favor of permanent daylight time. AASM released a statement reinforcing its recommendation for permanent standard time, which it says “aligns best with human circadian biology and provides distinct benefits for public health and safety.” We worked with AASM experts to coordinate more than 50 media interviews, resulting in a plethora of national and local coverage educating audiences about the health and safety risks of permanent daylight time, including CBS News, the Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal, to name a few, as well as more than 20 local television and radio segments.
To date, this spring’s daylight saving time campaign has garnered more than 1.4 billion impressions from 270+ placements. While it’s unclear when the House will take up the bill, we look forward to working with the AASM to continue driving awareness of the potential health risks of permanent daylight time and helping the experts advocate for permanent standard time, instead.