[Sosfbay-discuss] [GPCA-MediaComm] One hundred Green letters by May 31!]

Thu May 22 13:23:51 PDT 2008

Caroline, this is the response from the GPCA's Press Secretary...

Green is Connection!

Drew

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: [GPCA-MediaComm] One hundred Green letters by May 31!
From:    "Crescenzo Vellucci" <civillib at cwnet.com>
Date:    Thu, May 22, 2008 09:50
To:      "Drew Johnson" <JamBoi at Greens.org>
Cc:      gpca-mediawg at cagreens.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

In short, most people get most of their news and information from
television - it's why you see virtually all political advertising done
there NOT in newspapers, and very little on radio. And, the letters to the
editor is the LEAST read part of the paper.

That said, it's better than nothing.

As a PR guy I focus on all media, but when I get 3-5 cameras out I KNOW -
as Caroline suggests - I've reached "the people." That's my goal as a
progressive spin doctor.

So if people want to do the letter thing, great. As I said, even though
I'm a former daily newspaper reporter and editor, I recognize what's been
obvious for a decade or more....newspapers are dead, and people - for
better or worse (the latter probably) - we need to reach voters, and
voters get
info from television. Sigh.

Cres

P.S. I send GPCA releases to radio, TV and print. And I fax, not just
email, because  virtually all media outlets still prefer faxes.

Drew Johnson wrote:
> Good points Caroline.  Of course conditions vary across the country and
> while we in 'Silicon Valley' may not be typical, its true that multiple
> approaches are needed.  The national Media Committee has more print people
> than other media forms (the multimedia folks have a working group
> themselves) so one can understand why there might be a bias in that
> direction.  Nevertheless, as traditional as it sounds 'Letters to the
> Editor' remain a very powerful tool in getting our word out -- Did you
> realize that LttE are picked up by Google News searches and thereby become
> part of the 'buzz' for getting media attention? Also as we get our letter
> writing campaigns rolling we can certainly follow up with a call-in
> campaign and other media outreach efforts.
>
> So who else is working on the '100 Letters by May 31st' Campaign???
>
>
> Green is Multi!
>
> Drew Johnson
> GPCA delegate
>
>
> On Tue, May 20, 2008 09:12, Caroline Yacoub wrote:
>> I have just been rereading the Media Group's challenge. While I think it's
>> a good idea, I must confess that I think we will be missing a lot of
>> people that way. For example, I don't think that I know anyone under forty
>> who reads the Letters to the Editor. And I'm a little surprised that the
>> "Media Group" would concentrate on print media. KQED has a call-in program
>> at 9:00 am, and there are, or course, many call-in shows on less Green
>> friendly stations, for the more adventurous. And then there are chat
>> rooms. I don't go to any. but I know they are there. Shouldn't we be going
>> where the people are?
>>   Caroline
>>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: [GP-US a/v] One hundred Green letters by May 31!
> From:    "Scott McLarty" <scottmclarty at yahoo.com>
> Date:    Thu, May 15, 2008 11:27
> To:      media-states at lists.gp-us.org
>          media-a-v at lists.gp-us.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> One hundred Green letters by May 31!
>
> (Please forward this as widely as possible to
> Green Party members & friends)
>
> The Media Committee challenges Greens all over to
> put the Green Party and our candidates on the
> media map!
>
> Our goal is to see ONE HUNDRED letters to the
> editor sent by Greens to newspapers throughout
> the US by the end of May.  If enough letters get
> sent, a good percentage will get published, and
> hundreds of thousands -- maybe millions -- of
> voters will read about the Green Party and Green
> candidates.
>
> If you'd rather submit an op-ed column or an
> article to the newspaper of your choice, that's
> fine too!
>
> What should you write about?  It's up to you:
>
> • Your favorite Green candidate for President of
> the United States
>
> • Your favorite Green candidate for the US House,
> US Senate, state legislature, county
> commissioner, city council, mayor, school board,
> or any other office
>
> • The upcoming Green National Convention in
> Chicago, July 10-13
>
> • The Green Party's demand for immediate
> withdrawal of troops from Iraq
>
> • The Green Party's demand for real action on
> global warming, rather than ineffective
> corporate-friendly half measures
>
> • The Green Party's support for single-payer
> national health care
>
> • Another Green Party position that you consider
> important
>
> • Anything else you can think of about the Green
> Party or Green candidates!
>
>
> Here are some suggestions:
>
> • Keep your letter concise & focused.  Five or
> six sentences is good, but in most larger
> newspapers, anything longer is in danger of
> getting edited or immediately rejected.  In many
> local papers, they'll be happy to print a longer
> letter.  Op-eds & articles can be longer, too.
> Check the newspaper's guidelines on submissions.
>
> • Use the word GREEN at least once, preferably a
> few times, so it's clear that your favorite
> candidate is a Green candidate, or the position
> you're espousing is a Green position.  Mention
> that you're a Green Party member and try to work
> in the web site of the national party (gp.org) or
> your local or state party.
>
> • If you can, use a personal angle.  For example,
> if a family member can't pay a medical bill or is
> on the front line in Iraq, it might be worth
> mentioning in a letter to the editor about the
> Green Party's position on health care or the war.
>
> • Respond to an already published article or
> column.  For example, a recent column in The
> Progressive by Adolph Reed (May 2008 issue,
> http://www.progressive.org/mag_reed0508) on why
> he isn't supporting Barack Obama deserves a Green
> reply: why doesn't Mr. Reed mention the Green
> presidential candidates?
>
> • Read "How to Place an Op-Ed or Letter in the
> Top 100 US Newspapers"
> http://theopedproject.org/content/view/8/8/
>
> Start writing letters!  If you get published, let
> us know -- and post it on Green Party discussion
> lists too, so other Greens can read it too.
>
> Scott McLarty
> mclarty at greens.org
> Media Committee
> Green Party of the United States
> http://www.gp.org
>
>
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>