Let's fight back against the media (This is my plan)

[GingerSnaps]

Can we organize a group of people in each state to hand out flyer's in front of media outlets? What I have in mind is that we could print up a small pamphlet or flier showing that the media is refusing to cover "Voter-gate".

In the flyer's we could provide links to websites, information on how the boxes were rigged, the Bush computer software connection, who owns the media channels that are feeding them news, etc. etc. etc.

We could position the groups in front of every media outlet and let them hand out flyer's right in front of every radio & TV station, newspaper and any other news organizations.

I believe the American People needs to find out about what our country is doing to them and how the media is going along with Bush's tactics.

We might be able to start turning some heads around to our cause and we would let people who don't know what's happening know about all of this.

We need to shine a light on the tactics of the media and how they are suppressing information from the public.

We need to take our country back and the media has to change. If we don't do something we will be suffering the consequences in the future.

Let's organize something of this nature please! :hug:

[bluetrain]

1. I'm in NYC and I would definitely do this

How do we consolidate all the information into Cliff's Notes, though?
Is anybody good at this type of thing?

[GingerSnaps]

2. Can you imagine if we stood in front of the TV Stations

While they were having their morning shows and we stood right in front of the window with signs?

(I am half asleep so my wording on my message might now make sense but I hope that everyone can get the jest of it)

[bluetrain]

3. I think we'd be shuttled out if we had signs

Unless one side had like some bullshit birthday message on it and as they panned over we flipped it. Someone could also pretend to be having an anniversary or something and when they came for the sound byte slipped this URL or bbv into the message. The only problem of course is then they have our faces. Also, I doubt those crowds are going to be particularly receptive but it's certainly worth a shot.

[Carolab]

4. Yes I have been suggesting this for MONTHS

We need to get people ONTO THE NET

There are lots of people who are freaked out by computers and do NOT know what's going on in the blogosphere

They barely know how to turn their computers on

It seems that it might be better to organize community meetings--at schools or something--to get people out and understand how to use browsers, enter addresses, do searches, etc. Make them understand the power of the net as an information source

There could be teaser flyers that would provide some real news summaries followed by links to sites: For more information, visit: blackboxvoting.org, etc.

The headline could be something like--things you won't find on the mainstream media--or get off the junk news diet...

I have been working with a neighbor I met through GOTV in my precinct and she and I have put out a few e-mail newsletters. But REALLY you need to encourage people to just jump in and start PHISHING

[bluetrain]

5. Not everybody has access to the web or easy access anyway

Could we get some sort of maybe weekly newspaper together? I'd pick up a paper route.

I've been really disappointed by The Voice not being all over this.

[nodehopper]

10. it would be good to plug into the existing infrastructure

for one, there is The Indypendent (the Indymedia publication)

For two, did you know that ANY Manhattan resident is eligible to make programs that will air on MNN? usually slots are assigned in advance, but the guy who runs MNN, Michael Eisenmanger is a radical, involved man concerned with social justice and has spent many years working with Paper Tiger (which airs weekly on MNN).

There ARE public resource, they just need to be plugged into.

[indigo11153]

13. You are right

Like your idea too.

[GingerSnaps]

6. Organizing is not my forte

I have been trying to get a march on the media since Bush stole the last election. I also want to get a black out all media outlets for a couple of months as a protest by cutting off the money that they get from us every month. We can put a dent in their pockets and the only way to get through to Repugs is to take away some of their cash from them. If we cut off services and stopped their propaganda newspapers then they would take notice.

(I am so sleepy right now I hope that I am making sense)

[samfish]

7. What I would do...

Is make a flyer that condenses some of the more irrefutable evidence into sentences (ex: In Florida, there was a 700% increase in the number of Democrats voting Republican compared to 2000; A Voting machine in Ohio gave Bush 4000 extra votes), maybe even put a sample of the exit poll irregularities on it (like one from Wisconson and one from, say, New Hampshire).
Then list some more of the oddities like the fact that, so far, every voting glitch has in some way benefitted Bush.

I wouldn't, however, mention voter supression because on whole, I don't think that really panned out. People are more likely to kinda roll their eyes at that at this point...sadly.

And, of course, a big head line. Nothing partisan, though, like "BUSH CHEATED!!!". That'll automatically turn off about 1/2 your potential readers (9/10 of which'll throw out the flyer anyhow). We'd be better off with a headline like, "EVIDENCE OF FRAUD MOUNTS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION".
Thats kind of a crappy headline, but I'm sure we could think of something snappier.
I'd say it's also more important to say "Presidential Election", rather than just election.
"Mounts", too. Because thats one of those sily words they use to make things seem a lot more important than they really are :D

At the bottom, you'd have to have a URL to a site (make sure it stands out!!!) with a list of links to stories. The URL would have to be simple, so even an idiot could figure out how to get there. I would also argue that said URL should appear...balanced. Meaning we don't send them to WhatReallyHappened.com or even DemocraticUnderground.com.
Those kind of names suggest bias and even conspiracy to the average person, I'd wager.

[GingerSnaps]

8. Good Idea

I want us to stand right out in front of media outlets so that it will show that what we are fighting against is our freedom of information.

"Bush Cheated" would definitely get the attention. We also have to make a statement about repression so that people will start to think about what is happening to our country.

[indigo11153]

14. on the right track

Money is all they care about. Their credibility is all they have to sell. Destroy it and you hurt them in the pocket book when people literally won't buy it anymore.

[tbuddha]

9. We need NYers help more than ever!!

If you are in New York the media part is mainly up to you. Protesting outside news studios and handing out flyers is great. I like the idea of a sign outside the window of the Today show. When MSNBC would braodcast in NY I noticed the crowd was overwhemingly for Kerry. Where are you guys now?

We've got the proof, the analysis part has gone a long way.

We got recounts going in NH and Ohio with maybe more to come. Now we need more attention in the media. If you live in NY, HELP!!

[nodehopper]

11. people, don't reinvent the wheel, USE your community media, public access!

ANY community member in any state can get programming on their public access channel. If you don't know how to make something yourself, usually your local indymedia will have resources to help you. Your tax dollars are paying for it, so use it!!! Public access is a great resource for progressive programming that is available at a grassroots level around the country.

(a good organizatoin to check out is the national Alliance for Community Media; there may be people already trying to organize something like this in your community).

[tbuddha]

15. Public Access is a great idea!!

We need a national coordinated effort on this. Could we use donations to buy the same time slots across the country and then advertise on AirAmerica? THAT would get the media's attention.

[nodehopper]

18. there are organizations that deal with this.

There is, like I mentioned, Alliance for Community Media. Great, progressive group.

Also you don't need to BUY slots on public access. That is the beauty of it. It is FREE to any taxpaying community member.

Here is a list of some public access outlets and organizations, taken from the website of an organization I work for, Deep Dish TV.

http://www.deepdishtv.org/pages/publicaccess.htm

[indigo11153]

16. No

This is a good thing but it won't work. Going around the media is a long term plan. Going straight at them is the way to go.

[nodehopper]

17. what do you mean AROUND the media? it IS the media

there is infrastructure and technology already in place. by all means PROTEST the mainsream media but also use resorces that exist. My reply was mostly directed at people who were, like, we need to make our own newspaper/media.

[indigo11153]

19. Agree

This is something we need but local cable is no threat to the big media alone.

[nodehopper]

21. right, but it's a way to get information out to people

so that they can understand why we are protesting. The two efforts can dovetail nicely with each other.

[indigo11153]

22. Yes

This is war and should be run as a campaign. We need to come at them from all sides and build a team to do it.

[indigo11153]

12. Protesting the media works

They don't like it one bit. Got to make sure you have your facts right though or they will eat you alive.

[indigo11153]

20. Ya know

Maybe we need a DU group. Something combining the media with activism?
A place where we can build and excute a national plan. Anyone like this idea?

[Carolab]

25. Maybe go to the state forums

and post it--ask everyone to get together in local areas and organize it

[Road Scholar]

23. Fliers would be great and I would think would attract media...

attention, and if it were timed properly, a tsunami of e-mails to the whole world would put it over the top!!!

[indigo11153]

24. Big picture thinking

I like it:thumbsup: