Reply #16: I just sent in my suggestion via the website

[mandyky]

We have a lot to do in the party, but we need to come up with a media plan first. Here's what I sent.

Chairman Dean & DNC staff,

I think we have moved in the correct direction by electing Gov. Dean as Chairman. During the DNC winter meeting (I watched on CSpan) it was mentioned that the DNC has a "state of the arts" TV and radio studio. One of our main weaknesses right now has to do with media coverage and bias by news channels and shows. I have heard Warren Buffet and George Soros are buying stock in CNN and other media outlets. Do they plan on making changes more friendly to Democrats?

The DNC and local and state Democratic party organizations need to apply pressure to media. We also need to furnish a weekly rebuttal to the president's radio address, and work on getting more outlets to carry it each week. I am sure AAR would carry our rebuttals and there are independent Democratic and progressive radio shows through out the country, that might carry as well. Cable news channels may take more effort.

Here in Richmond, KY via Adelphia Cable, we have a government channel. Maybe other small cities have such channels. Perhaps we could get local democratic meetings covered. This channel is dead air for a large part of a 24 hour period.

I listen to an independent radio show Sat. nights out of South Florida. Guy James jokingly refers to broadcasting from behind enemy lines (very republican area). He is a listener supported show. He does call ins and not only broadcasts locally but streams online. We need to find and support other such shows, and also help AAR get on more radio stations.

Our online media needs some work too. At mydd.con I read of a project to make sure all state democratic parties have a blog and learn to use them to our best advantage. Once each state party has a blog that should trickle down to county and local party organizations. But having a blog is not an end all be all, the folks need to learn to use them for maximum effect. I am a poster at democraticunderground.org and they have state forums for people to post info about local issues and races. We need to share information with our state parties about these resources.

As Chairman Dean is aware, we have a virtually untapped army of grassroots ready to move on projects online and off. We need a clearinghouse type website that has a list of blogs, publications, radio shows, and forums friedly to Democrats. Use us! Please have our online coordinator at the DNC make a post for the blog. I am willing to bet they'd get a bunch of online activists signed up in a few days.

Anyway, as you can see my concerns are mostly with media issues. Please pass on any finding to our Congress people (reps and senators) that we need to re-enact the Fairness Doctrine where possible. I think the reason liberal has become such a dirty word is that people like Rush Limbaugh have had so much exposure. We need to counter those voices, and soon.

Sincerely,
Marlene Jones
Richmond, KY