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

Thu May 22 13:27:38 PDT 2008

Cres is correct -- Cable TV is relatively cheap and highly 'targetable'.

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 11:53
To:      "Bert" <truekahuna at comcast.net>
Cc:      "Drew Johnson" <JamBoi at Greens.org>
         gpca-mediawg at cagreens.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, we CAN do TV. You can buy CNN local PRIME TIME in Vallejo for $4 a
spot. YOu can do the same in Contra Costa for about $20. Sacramento about
$25, Or less.

It's because Greens and progressives continue to think small, and 100
years ago that we are not "in the game," Bert.

As far as free coverage, I've been all over TV here this week and last re:
a 120,000 flag display to commemorate those who have died in Iraq,
civilians and U.S. troops.

We CAN do this. We have to just use the media.

Cres

Bert wrote:
> Cres (et al),
>
> I don't know about "newspapers are dead". On life support maybe.
>
> I agree with you about TV, but radio and TV are forms of mass media not
> readily available to us (addressing that lack of access is part of our
> progressive agenda).
>
> Well, that is unless we start turning over cars or walking nude through
> the streets of Sacramento - neither of which is worth doing (jail time,
> sunburn, etc).
>
> Sending letters to the editor is, just for right now, less about THEM
> and more about US: any united action, by rank-and-file Greens, is the
> interim end we should pursue.
>
> And a concerted and sustained effort MIGHT just get us somewhere.
>
> But note "concerted" and "sustained"...
>
> Either way, we need to back up the "loud screaming" and letter writing
> with some solid on-topic electoral politics on issues that have mass
> appeal.
>
> Ex: This time around, the Donkeys has themselves a message: "hope"
> "change" (blah blah). Bumper sticker stuff. Of course Pelosi and Clinton
> and Reid are DLC "idiots as usual", but Obama SOUNDS like the next FDR.
> And this all without EVER hitting the REAL issue of economic injustice
> at the consumer level.
>
> Simply put, pocketbook issues are STILL not on the Donkey agenda.
>
> We need to hit them with THAT, in practical terms that common people
> (who all watch TV) can understand.  For cryin' out loud REPUBLICANS ARE
> GETTING WHIPPED IN MISSISSIPPI by Donkeys running on economic populism.
>
> Which means we need to get into the damned game.
>
> Letter writing does prepare the field. But we need to have our message
> ready, willing, and able to rock once St Barak runs head on into the
> money men that call the Donkey's shots.
>
> Bert
>
> civillib wrote:
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GPCA-MediaWG mailing list
>>> GPCA-MediaWG at lists.cagreens.org
>>> http://lists.cagreens.org/mailman/listinfo/gpca-mediawg
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GPCA-MediaWG mailing list
>> GPCA-MediaWG at lists.cagreens.org
>> http://lists.cagreens.org/mailman/listinfo/gpca-mediawg
>>
>