Adopt A Journalist Program

[dirtyduck]

OK, so there is obviously a lot of information flying around that needs to make its way to the mainstream media. We need to eliminate (or reduce) the filtering process that obviously impacts the American people. On the other hand, we don't want to be sending the media info that is not researched/validated, nor do we want to flood them with multiple copies of the same thing... that will just annoy them. What I am thinking about is this... What if we could all "adopt a journalist" (obviously one that is somewhat open minded) at any/all of the major media outlets and be responsible for forwarding on info to them that is important.

I know we all have contacts already that we could get started with.

There would still obviously be no guarantees, but an organized way to get to the media is necessary. A) What does everyone think? and B) How would we get started?

[GOPFighter]

1. It's worth discussing

I often write to columnists but rarely get any feedback. I don't know how much influence letters/emails have on journalists.

[noamnety]

2. Couple thoughts

The only concern is that flooding them sometimes might be the way to get their attention - that's how freepers operate. Using the Alison's Restaurant theory, one letter is a conspiracy theorist nut. A thousand letters is a movement.

So I would alter the plan to have us create a database with firm commitments to adopt particular journalists - to make sure each journalist at each paper has at least one person consistently keeping them informed.

But I would not discourage people from blanketing media sources with extra emails as well. Quantity is a weapon we need to keep in our arsenal.

[dirtyduck]

3. that's a good point...

i think the quality of the info is the most important.

[splat]

4. Quantity is SPAM! Don't go there! n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Not a bad idea!

We could keep these journalists informed, with links, about what we find out about here, from mainstream sources, liberal sources, local news media, individual research and experience, etc. We should emphasize politeness; establish that the intent is not to harangue or criticize, but to provide information the journalist might not have access to.

[dirtyduck]

6. and maybe it doesn't have to be an entirely formal process..

but I will just track the happenings on DU, pick out the most important proven info, and regularly send it on to my contacts. I have emailed Dan Froomkin from the Washington Post in the past and have had success getting responses.

[thecrow]

7. I'd like to see a list

of all these lists that we're supposed to join onto.

Skinner?? Please.... How about a special page that people could log onto where we could find all these ideas and choose those that we think we'd be good at?