We are totally outgunned by the right-wing noise machine. In our quiver there are arrows I hope you already use to spread info found on DKOS:
- LTEs
- Email friends
- Talk it up among friends and families
- Call in to radio shows
- Cross post to other blogs
- Donate to Media Matters, etc.
I’d like to suggest an easy one you may not have thought of: Pick a newspaper (especially your local paper) and cultivate some reporters by emailing them news tips you find on KOS and other blogs.
DISCUSSION
Friday I emailed the science reporters at the Columbus Dispatch about Bush closing EPA libraries--something I heard on Al Franken, and read about here. Did they already know about it? Probably. But the media is a right-wing echo chamber, and I think a lot of reporters are totally out of the news loop we have here. I wanted to make sure, and just as important, I wanted to let them know there is a buzz about it.
I have done this regularly. Usually I get no response. A few said "thanks." As often I got emails saying "we already covered that"--and that’s okay. I’m just making sure (and reinforcing that there is readership interest in the subject).
The one success I think I might take credit for was when Bob Woodward, in his latest book, quoted Bush calling Kenneth Blackwell a nut. I read it here, but saw it nowhere else. I emailed a reporter and he emailed back that they were looking into it. The next day, it appeared in the Dispatch. It was a small item buried on a back page (quel surprise); but it got out there, and MAYBE I had something to do with it (the reporter may have already been looking into it, I don't know).
TIPS.
Doing this is easy. Some tips:
- Link to sources. I usually include a link to the diary I got the info from, but I first give links cited as sources in the diary. (I suspect blogs scare some people; and don’t assume the reporter will read the blog and then follow the links.)
- "I read your stuff". It’s nice if you can "butter up" the reporter with "I read your story on (such-and-such), and thought you might be interested in this." This lets them know you are a reader.
- Finding the email address. Getting the email for reporters may take a little detective work. Many newspapers include emails with bylines. You can also go to the newspaper web site and look around. (Try Googling the newspaper name and the word "contact".)
- ID yourself. I always include my name and address at the bottom of the email. That let’s them know I am not a drive-by emailer, and an address within their readership area gives me some cred.
- Carbon copy. CC other reports who might be interested, and the reporter’s editor, if you can figure it out (the Dispatch lists them above the reporters). The editor makes the story assignments.
- Carbon copy LTEs. I also CC my LTE’s to reporters and editors who might care about the subject.
YOUR IDEAS?
Any suggestions or experiences to add?