| Today, the media can reach millions of
people instantaneously, which makes this a powerful tool for change. This
section holds information about how to craft an effective message and how
to reach as many people as possible.
The following internet media advocacy tools are grouped:
Capitol Advantage's Congress.org
This website enables citizens to engage in civic participation, by providing
information on national and local elected officials, as well as tools
to track representatives' votes, contact officials and the media, and
connect with fellow activists.
- Congress.org features a searchable directory
of local and national media with contact information for
news outlets.
Fairness
and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)
FAIR is a national media watch group that offers criticism of media bias
and censorship. The group works with both activists and journalists, and
encourages the public to contact media with their concerns.
- Media
Activism Groups: Most of these groups, in locations across
the U.S., are geared toward helping the average citizen make a message
heard.
- Media
Contact List: A nice short list of the major national media
outlets.
Media
Access Project
This site has excellent links related to media and the government. In
compiling the list, preference was given to "official" websites
and the resources that the Media Access Project found most useful, accurate,
and comprehensive.
Green Media
Toolshed
This site includes sections on how to get media coverage, how to implement
a media campaign, and why this is crucial to the success of an organization.
The GMT can guide an organization step by step through a campaign, from
drafting press releases and hosting media events to making a long-term
communications strategy.
University of Kansas' Community
Toolbox
This online resource was created to promote community health and development
by connecting people, ideas and resources.
- Media
Advocacy. This section is devoted to every step of using
the media to accomplish advocacy goals. Helpful sections aid in connecting
with and influencing the media, and in spreading messages.
Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)'s Media
Activism Kit
This kit includes guides to identifying, documenting and challenging inaccurate
or unfair news coverage, along with information about how to promote independent
media.
NetAction's Virtual
Activist Training Guide
This guide explains how to prepare information for the internet
media, among other outlets.
SPIN Project's
Media
Activism page
This is a varied list of resources for media activists. These include
media education and literacy, listings of local media activism groups,
how to fight media bias locally, examples of how other groups have fought
bias in their own communities, and educational resources for reporters.
ActionPA's
Activism
Training Materials and Resources page
ActionPA is a Pennsylvania-based center for organizing. Near the bottom
of the Activism Training Materials and Resources page is the "Media,
Communications and Lobbying" section, which includes guides to writing
a letter to the editor of the local paper and preparing for a press conference.
Ruckus Society's
Media Manual
The Ruckus Society provides environmental and human rights organizers
with the tools, training, and support needed to achieve their goals. The
Media Manual provides an introduction how the news media works (or doesn't),
and covers wire services, newspapers, radio, and television. A checklist
for effective direct action media is included.
Benton Foundation
The Benton Foundation seeks to articulate a public interest vision for
the digital age and to demonstrate the value of communications for solving
social problems, by assuming the roles of nonpartisan knowledge broker,
convener, public interest advocate and policy analyst.
The Communications
Consortium Media Center (CCMC)
CCMC works to help nonprofit organizations use media and new telecommunications
technologies as tools for public education and policy change.
- Op-Eds
and Letters to the Editor: Quick tips on writing and submitting
op-eds, and
op-ed submission criteria for the top 100 newspapers.
Berkeley Media
Studies Group (BMSG)
BMSG aims to help public health advocates spread their messages and use
the media to change policy. This site has numerous publications related
to media advocacy, including an 8-page publication called "Newspaper
Frames of Childhood Lead Poisoning."
Vancouver Community Network (VCN) Citizen's
Handbook
This is a comprehensive grassroots organizing guide.
- Books
on Publicity and Media Advocacy
The following websites and pages have lists of alternative news outlets.
Alternative
News Sources (short list)
Alternative
Press (short lists, includes media from the U.S., Canada,
and around the world)
Alternative
Press Center's Directory of Periodicals (extensive alphabetized
index)
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